Voyage of the Owl

by Belinda Murrell

  Saxon found the other specially made arrows that were designed to tow a thin, lightweight rope. The heads of these arrows were barbed to make it difficult for them to be pulled free. They were engineered to bury themselves in the timber of the ship and stay there. Fox was hoping that this embedded arrow and rope would be strong enough to tow a very light craft.

  Jack, Ethan and Carl gingerly lowered the stowed rowboat and coracle down from the deck into the water, trying not to cause any splashing. Everyone went to their appointed positions and waited, breathing deeply, eyes wide.

  Carl let Otto out of the hold with a stern warning, as they would need him to help crew the boat. Otto, Jack and Carl were to sail the darkened Owl no more than half a nautical mile behind the Sea Dragon and watch for their signal to be picked up.

  ‘Come about,’ whispered Fox when he judged the Sea Dragon had sailed past them in the distance.

  The Owl surged forward, eager to be flying once more. She sped across the ocean on a tangent to the Sea Dragon, aiming to come up behind the other ship.

  Fox was steering, his brow furrowed in concentration. Otto, Jack and Carl adjusted the sails as required to keep the Owl at racing speed. Ethan stood on the bowsprit, his arrow nocked and his bow aimed. Fox had told him to aim slightly higher than usual to allow for the drag of the rope. Ethan had practised this new angle time and time again on the floating keg, trailing behind the Owl.

  The stern of the Sea Dragon came rushing closer and closer. By the light of the lanterns in the rigging, they could see the outlines of a dozen men on watch.

  ‘Fire,’ whispered Fox. Carl signalled to Ethan.

  Ethan took a deep breath, checked his calculation, and fired. The arrow whistled through the air and buried itself deep in the timber stern of the Sea Dragon. The coiled rope unfurled at great speed.

  Down beside the Owl, Lily, the lightest, knelt on the small coracle, clutching the other end of the rope in her hands. On her shoulder was Mia. When the arrow embedded itself, the coracle, with Lily and Mia in it, began surfing behind the Sea Dragon.

  The rounded coracle was a shallow boat, extremely light, built of wicker and goat skin. It bumped and swayed wildly in the wake of the huge ship. Lily hauled hand over hand, to pull herself closer to the Sea Dragon. Soon it was towering over her head. She had to balance carefully, spray flying in her face. Mia clung on nervously, chattering in Lily’s ear. Lily’s stomach lurched and danced.

  Another, heavier rope continued to pay out behind her, back to the rowboat, where Saxon and Roana waited anxiously. Ethan and Fox ran to join them.

  In a matter of moments Lily bumped gently into the back of the Sea Dragon. Now was the most difficult part of the operation. Mia chattered anxiously. Lily had to quieten her with a few soft strokes on her tiny head.

  Lily hitched her skirts high, with the thicker rope tied around her waist, and clambered up the steep planks of the stern, her bare toes and fingers searching for holds. The timber was slick with seaspray and the grooves were narrow.

  Once she slipped, banging her hip painfully, but she regained her handhold and kept climbing. Lily had to climb past two rows of darkened windows, carefully avoiding the delicate glass. Her fingers were sore and clumsy when at last she reached the taffrail, the upper part of the stern railing with its ornate timber fretwork.

  Here she found a suitable strut to securely tie the thickest rope, using the knots that she had practised over and over again with Fox. She prayed her knots would hold, as this rope would need to hold the weight of four people in the rowboat.

  When Lily was sure everything was secure, she tugged strongly three times.

  Immediately Fox cast off from the Owl. The Owl tacked and raced away out of sight, back into the swirling darkness of the vast ocean. Aisha stood on the side of the Owl, whining softly. She hated being separated from Lily and Ethan, but orders were orders.

  Now it was the turn of the rowboat to surf and coast behind the huge ship. Saxon and Ethan pulled the rope in, until the rowboat was just under the ship’s stern. Now Roana, Saxon, Ethan and Fox took it in turns to climb up the slippery stern, though they all had the benefit of Lily’s secured rope.

  At last, puffing and panting, the group reached just below the taffrail. Everyone peered through the black windows they passed, hoping to identify the captain’s cabin.

  ‘This looks like it here,’ whispered Fox. One of the windows was open a crack to let in the night breeze.

  ‘We need to get in there and have a good look around,’ Fox murmured. ‘Time for a little diversion.’

  Ethan nodded, and nocked an arrow to his bow, peeking it over the railing above. Ethan could see lanterns flaming and a jumble of soldiers on the poop deck. He heard the low murmur of gossiping voices and smelt a whiff of pipe tobacco. Saxon struck the tinderbox. He touched the spark to the tuft of pitch-soaked hemp, just behind the arrow tip.

  Ethan fired and the arrow whizzed forward, hitting the foredeck and smouldering into a small spot fire. Another fire arrow followed the first, piercing the forward sail, which caught on fire.

  A shout sounded from the foredeck. Ethan fired a third arrow, which started another spot fire. He ducked back again, out of sight. There was the sound of running feet.

  ‘What is it? Where’s it coming from?’ shouted a sailor.

  ‘Fetch the cap’n,’ shouted another.

  ‘Get buckets. Form a chain!’ came the sound of panicked voices. Fire on board ship was every sailor’s worst nightmare.

  A pounding sounded on the door of the cabin Fox had identified as the captain’s.

  ‘Fire, sir.’

  A candle was lit hurriedly. The captain pulled on a jacket and breeches over his nightshirt and hurried out of his cabin.

  As fast as lightning, Mia shot through the tiny crack of the window. Following Fox’s gestures and whispers, Mia unlatched the window from the inside.

  Lily pulled the window open wider and slithered in. She tiptoed across the cabin, found the door and locked it. Mia ran across the floor and leapt to the security of Lily’s shoulder.

  Ethan clambered in after Lily. Groping in the dark, he found a lantern on the desk and lit it. Roana, Saxon and Fox all climbed in afterwards, blinking in the sudden bright light.

  The captain’s cabin was lavishly furnished, but not overly large. Across the back of the cabin, under the multi-paned stern window was a long window seat, covered in plum-coloured velvet, with plump cushions and brocade bolsters. Thick velvet curtains in the same rich colour framed the windows, tied back with wide gold braid.

  To the left was the captain’s bunk, over a metre wide and curtained off with more velvet drapes. There were deep storage drawers under the bunk, and a tall wardrobe against the wall. Ornate brass lanterns hung from the ceiling on chains that allowed them to swing with the motion of the ship. Fox lit these with his tinderbox so the cabin blazed with light.

  To the right, on the starboard side of the ship, a cluttered mahogany desk and a well-padded armchair sat under a small square window. Next to these was a capacious sea trunk, with bands of iron and a huge lock, fortunately fitted with a key.

  The cabin wall was dominated by an oil painting, framed in ornate gilt, of a raging sea battle between the Sea Dragon and an unfortunate enemy ship, which was being blasted to smithereens. The Sea Dragon dominated the foreground with pennants fluttering, victorious.

  The centre of the room was clear, with a beautiful fringed rug on the floor, depicting a tree filled with exotic birds, monkeys and a peacock, woven with crimson, blue, green and cream silks.

  Everyone paused near the window seat, taking in the colourful details of the captain’s cabin. Mia scampered up the curtains of the bunk and swung from them merrily.

  ‘It surely makes my cabin look like a hovel,’ whispered Fox. The others grinned nervously. ‘All right, everyone, set to work.’

  Silently, each person took a section of the cabin and began to search it carefully and methodically.


  Ethan searched the desk, which was littered with papers, charts, quills, instruments, the logbook, a pipe, tobacco pouch, the captain’s fob chain, a decanter of rich brown liquor and a crystal tumbler. The drawers were crammed with more papers, a length of string, some sweetmeats and what looked like drafts of very bad love poems.

  Roana searched the drawers under the bunk, through the bedclothes, behind the curtains and under the mattress. She found nothing but some smelly socks wedged down the end of the bunk.

  Fox searched the captain’s trunk, full of clothes and books. He found only a small pouch of silver coins, which he pocketed immediately, and a bottle of perfume. Fox sniffed the perfume experimentally. It smelt sickly sweet and floral. The reek pervaded the cabin, making everyone feel sick with nerves.

  Saxon searched the cupboards thoroughly, dragging out armfuls of books, papers and clothes. The only thing that he found of any interest was a map of Tiregian, which the Sedahs had obviously brought with them when they were planning their invasion. Saxon folded the map up carefully and tucked it away in his pocket.

  Lily searched the walls and the panelling, knocking and pressing, looking for a secret cavity like the one hidden in the nursery of the Palace of Tira.

  Hearts pounded. Stomachs clenched. Mouths were dry. They all knew they only had a few minutes before the fires would be extinguished and the captain, finding no apparent source of the conflagration, could well return to his cabin.

  No-one had found anything remotely resembling a Moon Pearl, or the Star Diamonds.

  Roana felt a tingling in her hands and feet, an icy sensation, similar to the pulsating burning she had felt when she touched the Sun Gem.

  ‘It is here. I know it is here,’ she whispered urgently. ‘But where could it be?’

  The desk and cupboards had been emptied. The bunk had been stripped. The sea trunk had been tipped on the floor. There were no signs of hidden panels or moving boards. The cabin was now a dreadful mess, with the captain’s belongings strewn all over the floor.

  There was a slight noise outside the cabin. The handle turned. The handle rattled. A voice swore. Then there was a shout.

  ‘There are lights on in my cabin and the door’s locked!’ boomed the furious voice of the Sea Dragon’s captain.

  ‘Go,’ Ethan mouthed urgently to Roana, who raced to the window and clambered out.

  The door shook and rattled as it was nearly shaken from its hinges.

  Lily followed Roana out the window. One after the other, they slithered down the stern, clambering down the rope and into the wildly rocking rowboat. Everyone felt sick in the stomach. To be so close. To be in the captain’s cabin on board the Sea Dragon and not find the Moon Pearl. It was too devastating.

  But still they were in danger. They had to concentrate to escape.

  Down in the rowboat, Lily picked up the shuttered lantern and with fumbling fingers opened the shutter to reveal the flame. She stood up and started waving the lantern in the direction in which the Owl had disappeared.

  As Saxon clambered out the window, Ethan searched the cabin wildly with his eyes, one last time. He noticed the fine red and blue rug, covering the floor, half hidden by clothing and papers.

  More shouts sounded outside. The pounding on the door had grown more thunderous, as extra hands and tools were added to the job.

  ‘Go,’ Ethan whispered to Saxon, who had paused half in, half out of the window. Saxon obediently disappeared from view. Fox started to climb out after him, with Mia cuddling on his shoulder.

  Ethan took another look at the rug.

  On impulse, Ethan ran back and pushed all the clothes and papers into a heap at the side of the cabin, revealing the beautiful rug. He yanked the rug away and threw it to the side. There, underneath, was a small trapdoor, almost invisible in the polished wooden floorboards.

  Ethan pulled up a small loop of ribbon, which opened the trapdoor. Nestled under the floorboards was a small black chest. Fox climbed back in the window to help Ethan.

  ‘Go,’ Ethan yelled at Fox. ‘I’ll get it!’

  But Fox paused by the window, his drawn cutlass and dirk glinting wickedly in the lamplight.

  ‘I’ll cover you,’ Fox grinned, his eyes sparkling. ‘Can’t let our precious treasure get lost at the last minute.’

  The door jamb started to splinter. It would give way at any moment. Ethan picked up the chest and ran for the window, climbing out one-handed, with the heavy chest under his armpit.

  The door flew open and a sallow-faced man rushed in, his night shirt tucked into his breeches, followed by an excited group of Sedah sailors and soldiers. The leader, who appeared to be the captain, was brandishing a long silver cutlass. He checked his rush when he saw Fox insolently standing by his cabin window.

  Fox was indeed a dashing figure, with his red ponytail, gold hoop earring, black shirt and breeches, those wicked silver weapons and Mia the monkey perched on his shoulder.

  ‘Prepare to fight, you pirate,’ shouted the captain. ‘How dare you board my ship? For that you will die.’

  The captain paused just a moment then rushed forward, his cutlass raised. Fox gently lifted Mia from his shoulder and handed her to Ethan. Mia scolded loudly as she scampered up Ethan’s arm and snuggled her paws into the neck of his shirt.

  Gallantly Fox saluted, then stepped forward into a lightning-fast, courtly sword dance.

  Cutlasses glinted and whirled in the lamplight. The Sedah captain grunted and sweated as he swished and hacked at Fox. Fox in his turn danced lightly on his toes, feinting and parrying, darting and blocking.

  The Sedah soldiers and crew stood back, crowded outside the cabin door, respectfully giving their captain enough room to fight. The soldiers held their own weapons loosely, cheering encouragement to the Sedah champion and catcalling insults to Fox.

  Encouraged by the noisy support of the audience, the captain screamed, spittle bubbling at his lip, as he lunged hard, striking down at Fox’s red head with the full force of his formidable strength.

  Fox deftly blocked the blow with his cutlass and dirk crossed over his head. The steel screamed as the three weapons struck together with tremendous force. Grunting with exertion, Fox threw the captain back against the bunk. The captain launched forward, screaming with wild rage, his cutlass aimed for Fox’s heart. Ethan watched, mesmerised, unable to tear his eyes away.

  Fox adroitly weaved and sidestepped, and the cutlass merely nicked his left shoulder, drawing a slow welling of blood. Encouraged by the sight of crimson, the captain grunted and lunged, planning to slice Fox’s red ponytailed head from his black silken shoulders.

  Fox’s reactions were faster than thought. With a graceful glide and a twist, Fox slashed his opponent on the right forearm, drawing a torrent of blood.

  The captain swore loudly and dropped his cutlass, grasping his wound between his fingers. He sank heavily to the floor, sweat oozing from his forehead. The crowd of Sedah sailors and soldiers surged forward as one, to help their wounded captain.

  Fox deftly kicked away the captain’s dropped sword, then dragged the captain with him backwards towards the window, the dirk pressed to his throat. The soldiers paused, unsure whether to hold back, or risk their captain’s life by trying to overpower the red-haired interloper.

  This hesitation gave Fox just enough time. He released the captain and darted for the window. Ethan saw him coming and slid down the rope, landing with a thud in the bottom of the rowboat. Fox followed close behind, then hacked the mooring rope free with his cutlass.

  Roana and Saxon cast off the rowboat from the stern of the Sea Dragon. The momentum of the great ship carried it away from them quickly.

  ‘Keep signalling. Hide the lantern with your cloak,’ yelled Fox to Lily. ‘Row for your lives, boys.’

  Lily stood tall, signalling with the glowing lantern while Ethan and Saxon rowed with all their might, pulling away from the huge hull of the Sea Dragon.

  Everyone breathed a sigh of relief b
ut it was too early. A peculiar sound whirred through the air. Fox grunted in surprise and then screamed in agony. He slumped over, an ornately engraved hilt buried in his back.

  Mia squealed in distress, flinging herself on her beloved master’s back, cajoling him to sit up.

  The second dirk flew threw the air with terrifying speed. It shuddered into the seat next to Roana’s leg, while a third fell harmlessly into the sea a metre behind the small rowboat. Then the Sea Dragon had flown out of range, swallowed up by the shadows.

  ‘Sea Dragon… will come looking,’ gasped Fox. ‘Must … get … away …’

  Then Fox passed out.

  Ethan and Saxon kept rowing away from the Sedah ship in the direction the Owl had sailed.

  ‘Here, Roana,’ hissed Lily. ‘You signal, and I’ll tend to Fox.’

  Roana stood up to signal the Owl, while her cloak hid the light from the Sea Dragon behind her.

  Lily used the dirk embedded in the seat to cut strips of cloth from her petticoat. She used these to staunch the blood around the knife stuck in Fox’s back. She took the cloaks from Ethan, Saxon and herself to keep Fox warm.

  For agonising minutes, nothing happened as they rowed and rowed, hardly seeming to move. Then out of the darkness, like an angel’s wings, they saw the faint glimmer of pale moonlight on black sails.

  Roana swung the lantern more wildy, making sure it was still hidden behind by her cloak. The Owl came alongside, then turned directly into the wind to slow down. Carl threw a mooring line down to the rowboat. Saxon caught it and tied it fast.

  Aisha went crazy up on the deck, gambolling around and getting in Otto’s way. He aimed a kick at her, but Lily scrambled up the rope ladder at double speed to calm Aisha down.

  Charcoal wandered over to watch, purring in pleasure, her long tail curled in the air.

  ‘Fox is badly hurt,’ Lily murmured to Carl. ‘We will need to be careful getting him on board, then I will try to treat him.’