“Is there a problem, Das?” Falkin asked.
“The haunt was in my galley again, sir, and I told the lieutenant here to keep the damn thing away from me.”
“That’s a reasonable request,” Falkin said, facing me.
I smiled. “I have no problem with reasonable requests, sir. I do, however, have a big problem with people brandishing weapons at me.” I looked at the cleaver. “Especially bloody ones.”
“That is also reasonable, Das,” the first officer said.
The cook lowered the cleaver. “Aye aye, sir.”
Falkin returned my smile. “I tell you what, Lieutenant. You keep the ghost out of the galley, and I keep Das from, uh, brandishing his weapon at you.”
I ignored the snickers that went through the sailors. “I’ll try, sir. But as Trooper Basel is now a shade, he doesn’t quite have the imperative to obey an order that he once did.”
“I see,” First Lieutenant Falkin said. “Would you like me to try?”
“I say, Falkin, Rabbit,” Captain Javes said as he walked up. “Is there a problem?”
“No, sir!” we both said at the same time as we snapped attention.
“ ‘Cause it would bother Captain Suiden awfully that his first officer and his lieutenant were having difficulties, what?”
“Sir, yes, sir!” I said.
“Aye aye, sir!” Falkin said at the same time.
“And we really don’t want to do that, do we?” Javes asked, peering at us through his quiz glass.
“No, sir!” Lieutenant Falkin said.
“Sir, no, sir!” I said.
“Jolly good.” Javes aimed his glass at the sailors and troopers, and they all realized that they had urgent duties elsewhere. The captain waited for the deck to clear, then did his bugger me silly smile. “Oh, my word. I almost forgot—Captain Suiden would like to have you both gather the crew and troops so he can address them. Now.”
I watched the first lieutenant’s face as Javes strolled away. “Uh, sir?” Falkin turned to me with one brow raised.
“Captain Javes is of the king’s Court.”
“He is?” Falkin’s other brow flew up at my nod. “And you? Are you also someone special?”
“Hell, no, sir. I’m just a farm boy.”
“That’s not what I’ve heard, Lieutenant Lord Rabbit ibn Chause e Flavan, sixty-four degrees to the throne.”
“Oh, that. I didn’t grow up with it, sir.” I grinned, shrugging. “I’ve kicked my share of manure while behind a plow.” I saluted. “I’ll go get the troops.”
But apparently that wasn’t necessary. At Falkin’s gesture, I followed him up to the bridge where he had the bosun pipe assembly.
“Thank you, sir,” I said, as I stood at attention next to him.
“Don’t mention it.” Falkin watched the men gather below us. “But please keep the ghost out of the galley. In the navy we try not to upset our cook, especially around mealtimes.”
Below us the crew and passengers gathered, the sailors on one side and the troopers on the other just as if a line had been drawn down the middle. And separate from everyone else stood Chancellor Berle, Chaplain Obruesk, Laurel Faena and Lord Esclaur. As the last man appeared, Captain Suiden came out of his quarters, followed by Javes, Groskin, and the ship’s second and third lieutenants.
“We have been charged by King Jusson IV to escort the first ambassador from Iversterre to the Borderlands,” Suiden said as he stood braced against the moving ship, his hands behind him as he gazed down on the crew and troopers. “To this end, Vice Admiral Chause’s fleet will form a convoy to accompany us—”
Just then the ship swerved and while the crew and ship’s officers shifted easily with the change in direction, all of the troopers went reeling with shouts, curses and cries, some just catching themselves before they went over the railing. Groskin stumbled, desperately trying to keep his footing, as Javes and I latched onto the banister in front of us to keep from falling down to the deck below, with Jeff crashing into us. Captain Suiden, though, rode the change in direction as effortlessly as the seamen, casually shooting out a hand to catch Groskin before he fell. At the same time, Suiden turned his head to the helmsman and the muffled laughter that had started below on the main deck died out.
“Was that yaw necessary, Seaman Mattus?” Suiden released Groskin and walked over to the sailor at the wheel.
I could see Mattus’ throat work as he swallowed. “Uh, aye—yes—sir. A course correction.”
“I see.” The captain reached over and took the wheel, moving Mattus aside. “You are then relieved of your duties until you can properly set a course.” He glanced over at First Lieutenant Falkin. “You will supervise Mattus’ training, Lieutenant. I want daily reports.”
“Aye aye, Captain.”
Captain Suiden watched the sea for a moment, his hands resting lightly on the wheel’s spokes. He then sighed. “Sro Falkin, assign another helmsman, please.”
At a gesture from the first lieutenant, another sailor came up from the deck to take the helm over from Suiden, who stood at his shoulder for a couple of moments. “Very good.” Suiden turned, rejoined his officers, and looked down at the crew and troops. “I received two commands from our king. The first was to see to the success of the mission—not only the safe delivery of Chancellor Berle to her embassy, but to do everything in my power to help ensure the success of her mission. The second was to weld this ship’s different complements into one.” There was nothing but the sounds of sails and ship as the windrider cut through the water.
“His Majesty was very insistent that the second was necessary for the first to happen.” Suiden placed his hands on the railing and leaned over it, his eyes sweeping both sailors and troopers. “I agree and will do everything possible to achieve it. Do you understand?”
“Sir, yes, sir!” the troopers shouted.
“Aye aye, sir!” the sailors shouted at the same time.
“Very, very good,” Captain Suiden said as he smiled, his teeth gleaming white in his dark face. It reminded me of Dragoness Moraina at her worst (or best) and I edged a step away while a ripple went through the men below. Suiden looked over at First Lieutenant Falkin and I could see his body stiffen as he fought not to bolt. “Dismiss the men, Lieutenant.” The captain then went into his cabin, Javes bravely following him.
At Falkin’s dismissal, the crew and troopers scattered, clearing the deck fast. The first lieutenant then looked at me, his eyes wild. “A shark. The captain’s a bloody shark.”
“No, sir, a dragon. One that can hear through walls and see around corners.” I followed the first lieutenant down from the bridge, anxious to put distance between me and Suiden.
“And you serve under him?” Falkin stopped, but I urged him to keep going. He took in Jeff and Basel in a panic behind me, Basel’s eyes popping out of his ghostly head. He started walking again, picking up the pace.
“He’s a fair captain, a good captain, and he takes good care of his men,” I said, stepping right behind him. “Just don’t make him mad with stupid stuff.” Jeff made a strangled sound of assent. “I’d keep Mattus out of sight for a while.”
“It was only a joke—” Falkin began.
“No, it was done deliberately to make the captain look incompetent in front of the vice admiral.” Falkin said nothing. We had run out of room to, well, run, having reached the prow.
“The crew knew it was going to happen, didn’t they? Some signal was given so they could brace themselves.”
“Uh—”