While Halcyon watched, the dragonships moved about each other. He noticed that the Arcanian frigates purposely angled themselves quite near the dragonships. A sudden thought had him wonder what would happen if a frigate actually tried to ram the front of a dragonship. The dragonship would have only its bow chasers bearing on the frigate. It wouldn't sustain much damage, but the prow of the frigate would do mortal damage to the head and neck of a dragonship of any size if it managed to strike it. He didn't want to find out why it hadn't been done in all the battles he'd read about. There must be some good reason that he was too inexperienced to consider.
The naval battle continued slowly playing itself out on the surface of the water. By the time both fleets turned around and fired at each other once more, the dragonships were effectively out of the battle and captured by the last four frigates in the Arcanian line of battle.
Captain Olden appeared to enjoy the scene of the battle as much as his midshipwizards did. "History reports that there were two dragon speakers on those frigates and they were able to learn a great deal from those captured dragons. Very good, Mr. Argo, your knowledge of those dragonships is perfect," the captain said. "Now we'll watch the rest of the battle unfold."
Two more times the lines matched up and tore at each other. Each time the Arcanian ships fired faster than the Maleen ships and fired more accurately. In the last meeting, the flagship Arcania blew up in a huge burst of fire.
"That's the only thing I don't like about the battle." Captain Olden shook his head, smiling. "That's a difficult model to make and every time I go through that battle, I suffer the loss of that most excellent model. I should probably stop the battle before it explodes, but then we wouldn't be seeing the spectacular ending."
As the captain spoke, the ships of the Maleen turned away into the wind and unfurled their sails, running from the plucky Arcanian fleet still firing at them.
"Why didn't Admiral Gray give chase, Mr. Boatson?" the captain asked.
"It is the royal fleet's duty to protect Ilumin at all costs," Jacom answered quickly. "He couldn't be sure there weren't more enemy ships waiting for him to leave the area. One of the primary axioms of battle is to keep the defensive fleet between the enemy's target and the ships of the enemy."
"Quite right," the captain answered. "Well said. As you can see, the line of battle has served Arcania well. We fire faster and more accurately than the enemy does. We are usually outnumbered, but our experienced crews also help make up the difference between life and death. We place ships like the Sanguine at the back of the battle fleet, ordering dragonships to attack the rear of the enemy fleets. We rarely allow more than two dragonships in a fleet and always keep one to the front, usually the largest of the dragonships, and the other in the rear of the battle line."
As the captain spoke, the remaining enemy Maleen ships were far to the east. Frigates from the Arcanian line were cutting out and towing back ten Maleen ships of the line. None of the Arcanian ships were captured.
"I think that's enough of tactics today," the captain said, smiling to his young officers. "In the weeks and months to come we'll work out more tactics so that when all of you take command of your own ships and fleets, you'll know why older officers do the things we do. Dismissed."
his majesty's articles of war: article xi
If any person in the fleet shall conceal any traitorous or mutinous practice or design, being convicted thereof by the sentence of a court-martial, he shall suffer death, or any other punishment as a court-martial shall think fit; and if any person, in or belonging to the fleet, shall conceal any traitorous or mutinous words spoken by any, to the prejudice of His Majesty or government, or any words, practice, or design tending to the hindrance of the service, and shall not forthwith reveal the same to the commanding officer, or being present at any mutiny or sedition, shall not use his utmost endeavors to suppress the same, he shall be punished as a court-martial shall think he deserves.
"Move out, you slugabeds!" All the sleepy midshipwizards could feel Hackle's happy smile, even without seeing his nasty face. "You all know it's the fourth Harvestday of the month. Muster on deck for the reading of the Articles, that's the duty of the morning, get a move on!"
He's only happy when he's making us suffer, Halcyon thought as he placed his hat under his arm and walked out of the wardroom, ignoring Hackle's glare. He'd been up and ready for the muster long before Hackle's shout.
On the middle blast-tube deck, the marines were clearing away their hammocks and getting ready for the muster. They all made a point not to bump into Halcyon, even if he was a third of their age; he was an officer, after all.
As Blithe climbed up on deck, he tipped his hat to the forecastle in respect to the captain. He heard Midshipwizard Elan Swordson speaking to a cluster of midshipwizards.
"I tell you that demon spawn is going to cause us trouble. Mark my words, he's an unlucky midshipwizard. I don't care if he can rope-speak."
In his calmest voice, Halcyon asked, "Are you referring to me, sir?"
Elan spun around and they stood eye-to-eye. Elan was just a hair shorter than Halcyon, and almost as broad in the shoulders. He had a large paunch, where Blithe's waist was board-flat. There was just the faintest smell of wine on Elan's breath.
"Never you mind, young cockerel. Just keep out of the discussions of your betters. Get yourself to the mainmast with the rest of the children. The Articles are about to be read. That's an order, Middy." The sneering tone in Swordson's voice made it obvious what he thought of his fellow officer.
"Aye, aye, Midshipwizard Fourth Class Swordson." Blithe didn't want trouble with the slightly higher-ranked officer, but Swordson had been unusually argumentative of late. Halcyon walked to the mainmast and took a stance facing the forecastle like the rest of the crew. He noted the force-four winds and was pleased that his magic had made this voyage sunny and easy.
Unconsciously rubbing his temples—he'd been doing that a lot lately. He couldn't remember ever in his life having so many headaches.
"I saw Swordson giving you a dig," Tupper said, catching up to Halcyon. "You know you're going to have to do something about him."
"I've been thinking about my options with Mr. Swordson. I don't have a lot of choices if the man continues to talk about my family. I think I can ignore comments about myself, but the honor of my family is important to me," Halcyon answered back as the last of the men assembled for the Articles.
"Quiet in the ranks." Second Officer Griffon held the Articles for the reading. First Officer Wily and the captain stood next to her at the railing of the quarterdeck. Her voice washed clear and strong over the thousand men assembled on the deck below her. "By order of the Arcanian admiralty, the Articles of War shall be read every fourth Harvestday of the month to the entire crew. Reading these Articles prevents any sailor from saying they didn't know the rules by which we all serve our king and country. Article One..."
This was the first time he'd heard Officer Griffon read the Articles. He liked the quality of her voice. As she read the Articles, his mind drifted to his latest encounter. He tried to think of a way to stem the growing dislike Elan Swordson seemed to be developing for him. The demon-spawn remark was not a good thing to hear. Then, suddenly, he recalled a bit of advice his father had given him on his tenth birthday. In his mind, it was as if he were just hearing it now.
"Punch him in the face," his father said. "Sometimes you're going to encounter people, bullies mostly, that are just too stupid or bigoted to realize the error of their ways. Take them aside and beat the living tar out of them."
"But sir, what if they're bigger and stronger than me?" Halcyon remembered asking. That day a bully, the son of a soldier of the castle, had shouted at him. The bully was years older and much bigger than the young Halcyon.
"That doesn't matter at all, son. Some fights you're going to win and some you're going to lose. Defending your good name and reputation is important. Do it privately if you can and in the open if you
can't. Nine times out of ten, in the odd chance when you fail, your foe will respect you for your effort. Mark my words, lad, you owe a duty to your superior officers, but in the orlop hold with the hatch shut between you and the crew, rank means nothing and honor can be established where it wasn't found before."
The midshipwizard shook his head, fondly remembering his father. The man was a warrior, but a gentleman as well. The Maleen took him away from Halcyon. That evil act called for some type of payment by the entire Maleen nation. Mr. Swordson would also have to change his manner, and Blythe's father's words of advice would help the son solve the problem he faced with the midshipwizard. He stood a little straighter and looked to find Swordson in the assembled group.
Halcyon concentrated again on what Officer Griffon was reading out loud.
"His Majesty's Articles of War, Article Twenty: 'All spies, and all persons whatsoever, who shall come, or be found, in the nature of spies, to bring or deliver any seducing letters or messages from any enemy or rebel, or endeavor to corrupt any captain, officer, mariner, or other in the fleet, to betray his trust, being convicted of any such offense by the sentence of the court-martial, shall be punished with death, or such other punishment as the nature and degree of the offense shall deserve and the court-martial shall impose.'..." She continued on, but Halcyon was again lost in his memories.
Halcyon remembered his brother Frank giving him a bare-knuckles lesson in the castle courtyard. Halcyon had been eleven and his brother fifteen. Halcyon tried unsuccessfully to punch past his larger brother's longer reach.
"Don't swing for the head all the time, Hal," his brother advised. "Everyone thinks they should aim for the face. Body blows are the thing to get the job done in a fistfight. The head is a smaller target and the hardest part of the body. When you're in a fight, go for the belly and chest. Your blows will land more often and you'll do more damage, mark my words."
His brother followed up by hitting him a good one in the gut.
Halcyon rubbed his belly, remembering how that blow knocked him to the ground. He didn't feel much like fighting any more that day. He remembered it with a grin. His brother now served as captain of a dragonship frigate fifth-rater off the eastern coast of Arcania. Halcyon hoped he was doing well.
Officer Griffon finished with the Articles and the captain took a step forward.
"Men, in two days' time we join our fleet in the blockade of Ordune. There'll be plenty of fighting and I imagine we'll take a prize or two."
The men gave a cheer at the thought of prize money.
The captain continued, "This morning we'll raise sails and I want record times from all of you. The crew that furls the sails the fastest gets an extra ration of grog tonight. The same goes for the port-side or starboard-side blast-tube crews who work the fastest. Officer Wily, beat to quarters."
The men cheered the captain again.
By now, Halcyon had the drill for furling and unfurling the sails down to a routine. All shifts of the crew practiced it every day. While the marines and some of the other crew moved to get the blast-tubes ready, the sail crews worked to configure the sails for what the wind and the battle situation called for. Today they would completely furl all of the sails. There were midshipwizards assigned to each mast with one for the port side and one for the starboard side of each mast.
"All right, you mainmast crews, we're going to be the first today to complete the duty." Blithe shouted this loud enough for the mizzen and foresail crews to hear.
Swordson, the crew leader of the foresail, looked back at Halcyon with a determined look on his face.
The drums beat the crew to battle stations and Halcyon started singing. He'd heard the rolling-home chantey several times, but this time he sang the chantey at a faster tempo.
Call all hands to man the capstan
See the cable run down clear
Heave away and with a will boys
For old Arcania we will steer
And we'll sing in joyful chorus
In watches of the night
And we'll sight the shores of Arcania
When the bright dawn brings the light
Rolling home, rolling home, rolling home across the sea
Rolling home to dear old Arcania
Rolling home, dear land to thee
His and Tupper's crews took up the tune and Halcyon's faster tempo. At first the mainmast crews were the only ones singing. The men hurried up the rigging and over the foot lines and the crews below pulled up the sails. The other two sail crews took up the chantey, but the mainmast crew held a big lead. The mainmast sails were the largest of the ship, but they had more men in their crews as a result.
Up aloft amid the rigging
Blows the loud exulting gale
Like a bird's wide outflung feathers
Spreads on high each swelling sail
And the wild waves cleft behind us
Seem to murmur as they flow
There are loving hearts that wait you
In the land to which you go
Rolling home, rolling home, rolling home across the sea
Rolling home to dear old Arcania
Rolling home, dear land to thee
Ropes slide faster; Halcyon touched the running rigging lines, giving them a plea to move at their best rate. He thought about pulling alongside the men, but his academy training told him that as an officer he wasn't to be doing the work of his crew.
He didn't know if his rope-speaking ability could make the lines move faster. He figured it couldn't hurt to ask the lines. All the while, the men pulled as fast as they could and sang the chantey. As the sails collapsed on themselves, the rigging crews tied them up in record time. A chance at another ration of grog was too good an occasion to miss, and everyone tried their best.
On the decks below, gel monkeys brought up jars even though they all knew the tubes wouldn't be fired that morning. Every beat to quarters required all the tasks of blast-tube firing even if it was just a drill.
Many thousand miles behind us
Many thousand miles before
Ancient oceans have to waft us
To the well-remembered shore
Cheer up Jack, bright smiles await you
From the fairest of the fair
And her loving eyes will great you
With kind welcomes everywhere
Rolling home, rolling home, rolling home across the sea
Rolling home to dear old
Arcania Rolling home, dear land to thee
With the last words of the chantey Halcyon and Tupper's crew were done. Tight to the sticks, the mainmast sails appeared perfectly furled. When they finished, the other two masts stood three-quarters furled. The crew on the mainmast gave a cheer.
Halcyon watched the mizzen crew finish its task. Swordson kept turning back to glare angrily at Halcyon, who stood with his arms folded across his chest staring evenly back.
The warship's chanter, a Master Chief Petty Officer Petree, came over from the mizzen crew to shake Halcyon's hand.
"Mr. Blithe, that was an excellent idea, you singing that chantey at a quicker tempo, that is. Using one the men all liked to sing, as well, was also a damn fine idea. Wish I had thought of it myself."
Halcyon turned red at the praise. "Why, thank you, Chief. I've been hearing your excellent singing for many days now and just used your good example for my sail crew."
Officer Wily walked over to add his compliments. "Well done, Mr. Blithe. Your sail crew won the contest by a good margin, thanks to you."
"You are too kind, sir. The men did all the work; I just gave them a small boost with my song."
"Did you use your rope-speaking ability to help things along?" Wily asked.
Halcyon stiffened at the remark, not really knowing if magical aid would be considered proper in the contest they'd just finished. "Sir, I'm still new to my meager abilities. I don't know if the rigging responded to my request or not."
"We will be going to full sails aga
in in a moment. Continue to practice all of your skills, Mr. Blithe. The navy needs good officers like yourself."
"Thank you, sir." Blithe watched the first officer step back up to the forecastle as the trumpet signals ordered the crew to make full sails and the blast-tube crews heard the call to stand down from their weapons. The captain stood at the forecastle railing with a smile on his usually gruff face. Halcyon hoped the captain was pleased as well with his effort.
A hand grabbed Halcyon's shoulder and spun him around. "It was the demon's own luck that allowed you to win today, Blithe," Swordson bitterly complained as Wily went out of earshot.
Halcyon faced several smirking crew members as well as the angry Swordson. Some of his own crew were slow to the lines, wanting to hear what their midshipwizard would say.
"Mr. Swordson, after this duty, I think that you and I should inspect the blast-gel hold on the orlop deck. I know it's dangerous duty, but someone has to do it."
"Who made you a blast-tube master?" Swordson sneered back.
"If you think it's too dangerous, I'll understand," Blithe taunted.
With that, Swordson finally understood Blithe's real purpose in asking him down to the orlop. "No, I see exactly what you mean. I'll be there at the eleventh bell; you see that you're there as well."
They both went back to their duties and the rest of the morning work shift progressed as normal.
The eleven clangs ending the morning work shift sounded over the ship.
I'm feeling unusually calm, considering what I'm about to do, Halcyon thought as he headed belowdecks. As he was going down, Chief Fallow was coming up the stairs. The chief stopped on the stairs and looked up at Halcyon.
Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe Page 13