Saturdays at Sea

by Jessica Day George

  Orlath was a wonderful dancer, despite the monkey clinging to his shoulder. Jocko had not been present during dinner, since he apparently had a bad habit of stealing food and throwing it at people, half-chewed. But he scampered in as soon as they entered the ballroom, and Celie danced with him snatching at her hair all the while.

  She danced with King Kurlath, with Rolf, and with Lulath and all the rest of his brothers. She even danced with Pogue, though at the end of the dance she had to tell him he was not a very good dancer. She couldn’t help it: it was almost a relief to find something Pogue wasn’t good at, and to break up the strange stiffness that had overtaken him that evening.

  After the dancing there were fireworks. Celie had heard tell of them, but had never seen anything more exciting than the little red “snappers” that the village boys loved to buy from traveling peddlers. They made a loud bang and a puff of smoke when you lit them, which wasn’t that exciting after the first scare.

  These were something else entirely. The court gathered on the terrace outside the ballroom, overlooking the sea, and gazed up at the sky.

  At first there was nothing to look at except the velvety sky, studded with stars like the jewels that glittered on the members of the court. And then a flower made of pink fire exploded above them. There were trailing golden comets, and scarlet wheels, and little blue stars that sizzled before they winked out. The fireworks lit the faces of the people watching, painting them with glorious lights, and Celie thought she had never seen anything more wonderful in her life.

  The griffins, however, did not care for fireworks. When the first flower ascended, they all howled in fright and ran back into the ballroom. Queen Celina gave a quick order to Lady Griffin, who seemed the least frightened, to keep the others there, and then had the servants shut the doors to the terrace. After a while, Rufus and Lorcan objected to being cut off from their people and crawled back out. Lorcan cowered behind Lulath, and Rufus began to squawk and carry on until Celie took the shawl that Renia had brought her and wrapped it around his head. Orlath’s monkey was hiding inside his master’s coat, and none of the dogs were in sight, either.

  It seemed that fireworks were best admired by people, and really, that was fine by Celie. She enjoyed every second of them, and sighed with regret when the sky turned dark once more.

  She sighed with regret again when her mother told her it was time to retire for the night. She would have protested, but it seemed that everyone was dispersing, and it was not just that Celie was being sent off to bed because of her age.

  “You’ll thank me in a few hours, when it’s time for breakfast,” Queen Celina said as they all made their way to their rooms.

  “A few hours?” Rolf groaned. “What time is it now?”

  “It’s three hours to dawn,” the queen said. “And dawn is—”

  “The launching of the Ship!” Celie said.

  “Just so,” her mother said. “Apparently it’s been moved to the docks, and we’ll have breakfast on board after we give it a name and launch it properly.”

  Celie thought she would be too excited about the launch to sleep, but she’d also been the length and breadth of the city that day, not to mention dancing several more miles at the ball. As soon as Renia had her in her shift, Celie fell facedown on the bed.

  “I’m just going to lie here for a moment,” Celie said. Rufus cuddled up beside her.

  The next thing she knew, Renia was gently shaking her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry, Your Highness,” the maid was saying, “but it’s time to get dressed for breakfast and the ship naming.”

  “What?” Celie rolled over. “Where am I?”

  Renia laughed and gently tugged her upright.

  It took Celie a few minutes to wake up fully. She splashed water on her face for far longer than normal, and Renia had to feed her toast and hot chocolate before she could really think. Then Celie had to rush into her final gown, with Renia’s help. This gown was simpler in cut but the same striking shade of green as Celie’s ball gown. Her hair was still stiff from the pomade of the night before, but Renia managed to twist it back and get Celie’s crown seated comfortably all the same.

  Then Rufus wanted a bow, and Renia had to collect all the gloves and fans and things that she thought Celie would need. At last, though, they were on their way. In the corridor they bumped into the rest of the Glower family, who all looked equally sleepy, with the exception of Lilah.

  “It’s time,” she kept saying feverishly. “It’s time!”

  “What are we naming the Ship, anyway?” Rolf wanted to know. “The Builder’s Ship doesn’t sound very impressive, unless you know who the Builder is, and even then . . . meh.”

  “I think that name lacks a certain something,” Queen Celina agreed. “Unless, of course, that’s what you and Lulath have your hearts set on, darling.”

  “No, no,” Lilah assured them. “I’ve seen the Builder’s dead body. I don’t really want to think of that every time I set foot on the deck of my Ship.”

  “What? Am I not also having this Ship?” Lulath demanded as they met him in the entrance hall.

  He swung Lilah around and kissed her. It came as a surprise to no one that he was wide-awake and looked completely refreshed. His parents also looked bright-eyed and ready for the day as they all climbed into the waiting coaches.

  Once they were at the docks, with the brisk air blowing on their cheeks, Celie also felt more alert. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and there was a large gathering of people there to see the naming.

  The Ship looked beautiful in the growing light. The wood gleamed, and the blue and red sails were very striking, as was the design of their unusual ship. A length of white canvas had been draped down each side of the bow to hide the name that had been painted on late last night.

  Celie felt rather pettish about this. Lilah and Lulath had agreed on a name, and then told no one . . . except the crew and anyone who happened to walk by while the name was being painted! Could they not have slipped a word into the ear of the family?

  “Do you know?” she whispered to Pogue as they stood and waited.

  “No,” he said. “And Lulath painted it on himself, I believe. Sometime after the second parade and before dinner.”

  “Well,” Celie said, feeling slightly better. “I’m very curious, is all.”

  “I’ll lay you a gold crown it’s called the Rainbow Unicorn,” Rolf whispered on Celie’s other side.

  Pogue snorted.

  “She wouldn’t,” Celie breathed in horror.

  “Have you met our sister?” Rolf demanded.

  Lilah glared at them, and then it was time. The sun rose, making the golden accents of the ship catch fire.

  King Kurlath made a speech, which was mostly thanking Celie’s father for giving them a ship as a gift. Then Queen Celina stepped forward and protested very formally that it was their pleasure. Much to Celie’s pleasure, Queen Celina also had Celie come forward, and explained that it was Celie who had found the figurehead, and how she had assisted in building the Ship. Then she thanked Pogue for taking charge, as well as Orlath, and everyone cheered and bowed, and then Lilah, who looked very pale, came forward.

  Lilah also thanked everyone: her parents, Lulath’s parents, and those who had worked on the Ship. Lulath joined her, but he merely waved, causing more cheers. Then a priest came forward and said a blessing. He handed them a bottle of pure rainwater.

  Holding it together, Lilah and Lulath smashed the bottle on the side of the ship as the priest said another prayer, imploring the gods to see the Ship always returned safe to harbor, as rain returns to the sea.

  As they smashed the glass, crewmen on the upper deck let the canvas drop, revealing the Ship’s name. At the same time, Lilah and Lulath shouted it together.

  “The Golden Griffin!”

  Chapter

  11

  This brilliant name is being all the thoughts of my Lilah,” Lulath said later, as the two royal families,
plus Pogue and various griffins and dogs, sat on the deck for breakfast. “As soon as it is being said to us, you two, you happy two, are having the naming of the ship, my Lilah is saying to me that it is being The Golden Griffin!”

  They all raised glasses of fruit juice in Lilah’s honor.

  “It just seemed right,” Lilah said demurely.

  “Very much so,” Queen Celina said. “I can’t think of a more perfect name.”

  “I really thought it would be something about unicorns or puppies,” Rolf admitted. “I’ve never been so glad to be wrong.”

  Lilah made a face at him.

  “Well!” Orlath pushed himself back from the table. “Are we being ready?”

  “Ready for what?” Celie asked.

  She also got to her feet. She was ready for anything. Especially if it had to do with the Ship. Her heart started to pound.

  “Is it time?” she asked Orlath. “Should we go?”

  “Go where?” Queen Celina said, putting down her napkin.

  “Anywhere,” Celie said, holding out her arms. “It’s a ship!”

  “Anywhere in the harbor, correct?” Queen Celina said, looking from Celie to Lilah with a single eyebrow raised.

  “Of course,” Orlath said. “We must first test this magnificent Ship. We will take a simple cruise around the harbor to celebrate the betrothal and to test the soundness of the Ship!”

  “A thing of great fineness,” King Kurlath said, getting to his feet and reaching out a hand to his queen. “And a thing that you must all be enjoying your own selves.”

  “Oh, you are not going to sail with us?” Lilah said with disappointment.

  “My our dear Lilah,” Queen Amatopeia said. “It is being a very great secret that you must now be knowing.” She looked around the table, very grave. They all stared back, suddenly silent.

  “Here we are being a people of the sea,” Queen Amatopeia said. “A people of the trading, and the ships.” She shook her head sadly. “And my very Kurlath and I myself . . . we are being the sickest of seasicknesses. Were we to be going even unto this harbor, it would be this all the very time!” And then she made a highly indelicate vomiting sound.

  Everyone stared at the elegant queen for a heartbeat. And then Rolf positively roared with laughter.

  “Did you really just do that?” he demanded.

  Queen Amatopeia looked pleased.

  “Oh, my queen, you are being the most very!” King Kurlath laughed. “But”—he held up a cautionary finger—“she is also saying a truth. Even still do the insides of me go to and fro, as they went to and fro this yesterday at the river!” He shook his head. “Were they to go to and fro at this harbor, there would soon be to, and never fro!”

  Rolf had to put his head down on the table. “That’s the second best thing I’ve ever heard,” he said in a muffled voice. He raised his head. “I’m going to use that some time, if I may, Your Majesty,” he told the king. “If this coach hits one more pothole . . . I might to and not fro. . . . The perfect thing to say in such a situation!”

  Now it was King Kurlath’s turn to look pleased. He bowed to Rolf. “Be using it! Be using it with often times!”

  “You really won’t come?” Queen Celina asked, her brow furrowed.

  But they insisted that they would not, and they took their leave with many hugs and kisses. They also gave orders to Orlath not to take too long, for although the betrothal celebration was now officially over, there was a family dinner that night, and possibly more dancing. If they were not too tired. This last was said in a tone that implied that the king could not imagine not wanting to dance all night, and Celie helped herself to another muffin as fortification against the day to come.

  They saw the king and queen back across the gangplank to the dock, along with most of the servants. At Rolf’s request they left breakfast there, in case he, like Celie, wanted more. But finally it was just the Glower family, Orlath, Lulath, and Pogue, along with the griffins and Lulath’s girls. They all looked around in anticipation.

  “And the now?” Orlath asked, flexing his fingers. “Are we being ready the now?”

  “So the ready!” Lulath told him. “So the now!”

  “Ready and waiting,” Lilah said.

  “Let’s go!” Celie cheered.

  The gangway was removed, and the ropes were cast off. Sailors ran back and forth on the deck, reeling in the ropes and getting the sails ready. Celie went to the helm to stand beside the huge wheel with Orlath. Pogue did, too, but the others went to the bow where they would have the best view.

  Celie didn’t care about the view. She wanted a chance to steer the Ship.

  Orlath brought them about, as he called it, turning the Ship from the docks and letting it glide around the edge of the harbor. The wind was perfect, and so was the tide, he told them, and Pogue and Celie nodded obediently. Both of them had their hands behind their backs, trying not to clutch at the wheel themselves.

  Orlath sensed this and continued to narrate everything he did. He showed them how the sails were brought down, and how the ropes were used to adjust them so that they caught the wind just right. He showed them how the turn of the great wheel moved the rudder so that the ship would go the direction you wanted.

  As they approached the mouth of the harbor, Orlath turned to Celie.

  “And now, Princess Celie?”

  Celie didn’t need to be asked twice. She grasped one of the handles sticking up from the wheel and held it just as she’d seen Orlath do. The wheel was warm and smooth under her hands, and it felt wonderful. She knew that Pogue was disappointed, and that he wanted to take a turn, but she didn’t care. He could wait.

  And then the wheel lurched to the side, and the boom swung to the side, shifting the main sail. The Ship began to leave the harbor mouth, rather than sailing past it and back around to the docks. Celie tried to turn the wheel, but it was too heavy.

  “Ah, ah, ah!” Orlath said, laughing. “Not yet!” He took hold of the wheel on either side of Celie’s hands and tried to turn it. It wouldn’t budge. He grunted.

  Pogue, seeing how Orlath was straining, also grabbed the wheel and tried to help them turn it, but still it would not move. The Ship began to sail out of the harbor with growing speed.

  Several of the crew came forward, calling out to Orlath to find out if there had been a change of plans. He ordered them to reef the sails so that they would lose the wind and stop their progress, and they began to bustle about.

  Lilah and Lulath hurried to the upper deck, concern written on both their faces.

  “What are you doing?” Lilah asked, staring at the three of them trying to turn the wheel. “We’re not supposed to leave the harbor!”

  “Something’s caught the rudder I think,” Orlath grunted, speaking Grathian in his concern.

  “Oh, no,” Lilah said. “Is that bad? Is the Ship broken?”

  “Oh, hardly,” Orlath assured her. “We just have to get it into the dock and look.”

  There was sweat running down his face now as he tried to steer the Ship, but to no avail. There was sweat running down Pogue’s and Celie’s faces as well, and Celie’s arms were shaking with the strain. It was like trying to move the Castle by pushing on one of the walls, and she said as much aloud.

  “May I?” Lilah said.

  She took over from Celie, and Lulath took over from his brother, standing shoulder to shoulder at the wheel of their Ship. The wheel didn’t budge.

  They heard a sailor swear, and looked to where the men were trying to get the sails down. But the ropes were whipping this way and that, slipping out of the men’s hands as though taunting them.

  “It’s like trying to move the Castle,” Celie repeated.

  Pogue looked at her sharply. Rolf and Queen Celina had joined them now, and the queen appeared more thoughtful than concerned. Rolf just looked excited.

  “Are we off to sea, then?” he said. “Excellent!”

  “We’re trying not to be,” Lilah said
from between gritted teeth. “There’s something stuck on the rudder.”

  “Is there?” Queen Celina said. “Are you sure?”

  “What is it, Mummy?” Celie asked.

  “If you would be so kind as to tell the men to stop trying to reef the sails,” Queen Celina instructed Orlath.

  “Of course, madam,” he said. He looked confused, but he called out the order anyway.

  The men were also confused, but they let go of the ropes, which had continued to slip out of their fingers as soon as they were captured. Several of the men had climbed into the rigging, but now they dropped back down to the main deck.

  The sails adjusted themselves. The ends of the ropes whipped around the belaying pins and tied themselves fast. The men shouted and prayed, and many of them fell to their knees.

  “I think you can let go of the wheel now,” Queen Celina said, looking rather grim.

  “What’s happening?” Orlath’s voice was hushed.

  “The Ship is taking us where it wants to go,” Queen Celina said. “And I suppose we’d better let it.”

  Although Orlath was the captain of the Ship, which actually belonged to Lulath and Lilah, it was Queen Celina who took charge then. Well, the Ship had taken charge, but the queen took care of the people on board.

  She ordered the food left from breakfast to be gathered up and stored properly, in case they needed it later. Then she had the cook check the other provisions that were on board and report back to her. They did, in fact, have enough food and water for a little over two weeks, he told Queen Celina, though he didn’t look happy about it.

  None of the crew did. They had rapidly left the harbor behind, and now they reluctantly unfurled the sails to find that the wind was in their favor. They were on the open sea, and though it was calm and the sun was shining, they didn’t know where they were going, and they hadn’t known that they would be leaving that day. No one had any spare clothes, and the crew’s families were all expecting them home for dinner.

  In the huddle around the helm they discussed ferrying the crew back to the docks on griffin-back, but it would take several trips, and most of the crew would not be too keen on riding a griffin. Not to mention the fact that if the Ship wanted to take them somewhere, they really should see where it was. The Castle had never done anything to hurt the Glower family, and Queen Celina told them that she had no doubt that the Ship felt the same way toward them.