Chapter Five
I stood, Willan at my side, staring down at the Wraith Deep. It was the ship we had captured from the privateer, Captain Yorlwig, now wallowing in a forgotten part of Umuron harbour, where debris gathered on the water's edge and seaweed rotted on the higher stones. She had never been put to use by the Empire and so was left to slow decay. That was until now, for I had been made a captain and given the Wraith Deep, which was now renamed the Lady Ocean.
"She needs pumping, captain," said Willan.
"She needs a lot of work. How many guns do you see?" I said to the young man who was now seventeen, taller than me, but still as skinny as a stick.
"Ten shooters, sir."
"Only ten? I suppose we should count ourselves lucky." In fact I was originally surprised to see any left at all. The ship was in a bad state, and only had half her guns but I still could not suppress a smile. I was a captain!
"So what did Captain Crosp have to say when he found out, sir?"
I thought back to that morning when Crosp had asked me into his cabin. He watched me as I read the letter. It was spring of the third year aboard the Sea Huntress. We had spent the last many months patrolling the waters, watching, waiting, but the expected rebel attack had so far not materialised. In fact the rebels had been quiet. Some would say, too quiet.
The letter was from the Naval Office of Norlan. Captain Lord Malspire Ardalrion, it read. It came with a parchment from the Naval Office explaining my new duties. The letter had a fine stamp and the seal of the Imperial Navy as well as the Ardalrion Navy upon it. The parchment simply stated my name and rank but with a lot of fancy filigree and official seals and was signed by some high ranking naval clerk. I was to take the captured frigate and get her shipshape and ready for duty, as well as add to the skeleton crew and find arms and supplies. I was to take her on sea trials for two months to get the crew and ship ready for duty. Then I was to report to High Admiral Lord Villor for orders.
In my cynicism, I was hardly surprised. I had been given a ship in need of much repair with the minimum of crew and then told to make do. No more crew where being sent from Norlan, nor extra supplies, guns or anything else for that matter. I was given the minimum a man would need to be a captain - a boat. Well, I would show them, the bastards, not that I felt anything but suppressed joy. I would show them just what I could do with a ship, any ship.
Crosp's lower lip trembled and a line of glistening drool ran down his chin, a visual sign of the hatred the captain had for me. “Well?” Crosp finally asked.
“It seems I am to captain my own ship,” I said. “It is the frigate we took as prize from that buccaneer, Yorlwig - The Wraith Deep. She's been renamed the Lady Ocean.”
“Then I am rid of you! You do not deserve the commission nor any place in this navy but I am pleased to be rid of you. At last I can have proper officers round me. Men of honour and good taste. Men who do their duty without the need to drink and womanise at every port. Men who know their station. You have been a constant thorn in my side, Ardalrion, and the faster you get yourself killed the better. Now get off my ship!”
I was close to striking the swine. Crosp drank. Crosp womanised. Crosp just did it more discreetly. Why hide it? Only a coward would hide it, and although at heart I knew I was a coward too, I fought it, and did not let it control me. People saw my true self and I did not care. Frea and cowardice were my ever present companions, but I rebelled against it.
"Then let us hope our paths don't cross too often," I said biting back the anger. “Good day.” I left without a backwards glance.
A pair of seagulls squabbled upon the Lady Ocean's crow's-nest. I realised that I had not answered Willan's question. "The man was pleased."
"Pleased, sir?"
"Pleased to be rid of me. Not too happy to lose you though, you'll be glad to hear." I had taken Willan with me as was my right as an officer for Willan was now my steward.
"Rather be at your side, Captain."
"Well, Mister Willan, I might say the same of you, but let's not dwell on it aye? But are you sure? So far I am only a captain of a half sunk frigate and a single crewman."
Willan chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.
Rats ran along the Lady Ocean's deck. Seagulls sat on her railings, fouling the woodwork. She needed cleaning and pumping and probably a lot of new timber. How quickly a ship succumbs to the elements when not used and looked after. It had only been a little over a year since capturing her. The renamed Lady Ocean was not a large frigate and would only hold twenty main guns on a single deck requiring a crew of ninety or one hundred souls to go into battle, not including marines.
Assuming Ajator was now made a captain too, I wondered what ship my brother had been given. My father would have seen to it that Ajator got a well prepared vessel with crew and officers, I was sure, and glad for him.
"Speaking of crew," I said, and looked around. Apparently there was a skeleton crew assigned to the ship, but where were they?
There was nobody about the ship, but close by was a tavern called the Dragon's Tooth and now as the evening drew in, sailors where gathering. I wandered over and entered the tavern and was met by a large, smoke filled square room with a bar running along one side, and a simple stone fireplace on the other. Long, gnarled wooden beams held up by four stout oak pillars ran the length of the place in turn holding up a buckling ceiling and lanterns. In between the well-worn bar and soot stained fireplace were wooden tables and chairs and thirty or so sailors and marines having a fine time with drink and barmaids. A cat was sitting on the bar enjoying the attention of a younger sailor boy. Over in one corner a game of cards was being played, and in another, men where arm wrestling. The tavern smelt of pies, ale, wine and pipe smoke.
"Take some leave, Mister Willan," I said. "Be back at the ship by morning."
"Right you are, Captain," he said with a grin, enjoying the new title, then left.
I liked the place. It was a little off the beaten track, but it had a simple charm to it with no attempt at finery or any other complication. It was reasonably clean and seemed to be well run. Nobody stopped as I entered. A few looked round, and either they didn’t notice I was an officer or didn't care for they carried on as before. Taking off my hat, I sat down at a well carved and initialled table by a wall and took out my long, curved pipe. Most of the table carvings were names or simple pictures while others were quite remarkable works of skill depicting ships and half naked ladies. I stuffed my pipe with tobacco from a leather pouch. Lighting it, I then summoned a plump barmaid who as tradition dictated was revealing a lot of heaving breast, straining at the seams.
“Evenin', sailor. What'll it be?”
“The men here - are they regular customers?”
“Some are, some ain't. You an officer?”
“I’m a captain.”
“Don’t look like a captain. Of course it don't matter to me. You can be a lord admiral if you want.”
Could I? If only she knew. “What does a captain look like?” I inquired.
“Taller I suppose. Cleaner cut too. You're too scruffy, and bent,” was the honest answer.
“That would be my brother. He's an officer. Probably a captain by now, but I haven't seen him in a while. He's the perfect officer and looks like one too.” It was true. "You'd like him."
“Would he order a drink?” she asked tapping her foot impatiently. I got the hint.
“I’ll have a bottle of your house wine. Do you have rooms here?”
“Yes. Nine coppers a night with breakfast from five.”
“And, are the beds warm?” I then asked placing a silver head on the table. “For the wine and a warm bed.” She was a big girl, bigger than I, but she was probably the warmer for it.
She sighed, taking the coin. “I’ll warm the bed for you, Admiral, but you’ll have to wait for closing time, and that can be late.” I nodded my agreement.
The wine was awful but I liked it. It made me feel alive to drink such vinegar
. It was honest drink. Cheap, strong and nasty, but it did the trick. As the night wore on, the place filled up and spilled out into the cobbled, lantern lit street outside. It was noisy with boisterous talk, bragging and a fiddle playing, raucous with drink and song. I noticed the flag of Calandia with the added Imperial badge on the wall.
The Empire had ruled these lands for centuries and originally filled it with the settlers who had tamed its eastern shores and forced the barbarians and beasts westwards into the wild plains. They had been hardy, brave people, poor but proud, carving a new slice of civilisation out of the wilderness. The flag was also popular with the rebels, but without the badge of course. Although sitting at a table, others came and went, using my table without leave. I did not mind. Space was at a premium, and I enjoyed listening to the sailors and their simple chatter. As it got later, three sailors sat down and began to talk amongst themselves. One of them mentioned the Lady Ocean so I listened keenly.
“I heard the captain’s a right nasty bastard,” said one.
“Son of the Lord Admiral! We're in for it, recons I. He's going to be lookin' for glory,” said another.
“Gods of the sea, I hope he ain't mad like some of them lords.”
“Well if he is, we put him in the drink, yeah?” The man grinned hopefully, looking for support.
The others sighed and shook their heads at this. “Don’t be daft Banton. You always say things of the like, but as soon as'n officer shows up, you’re as a wet puppy, all jumpin' and yes sir, no sir,” said the first who then belched.
“Are you crew of the Lady Ocean?” I then asked, and they looked round in surprise as though I had miraculously materialised.
“Yeah,” said the first eyeing my clothing, realisation slowly dawning on his simple face.
“Good. My name is Ardalrion... Your new captain,” I growled.
The men jumped up and stood as straight as pins.
“Sit down you miserable sons of whores.”
They looked at each other, and one by one sat down. Banton still sat as straight as a pin, and the first man had hit him for the man to relax a bit.
“Names?”
“Horis, sir,” said the first, then introduced Owman and Banton.
“Well lads. I am the son of the Lord Admiral, and I am mad. That means that when we're on my ship, you will look lively, and you will do your duty. You will not put me in the drink, and if I go looking for glory, you'll bloody well line up ready for me to sacrifice your sorry souls to whatever sea god I dream up and you'll thank me for the opportunity to do your duty.”
They looked worried. Banton looked pale.
“Right now however, I want to drink. I want to play some cards, and I want some food so tell that fat barmaid over there to bring us a round of ale, and some pies.”
Nobody moved. “Well, jump to it. Look lively!” I barked, and they did so.
The men soon relaxed and other crewmen joined us. There were a dozen or so men of the Lady Ocean, a motley crew. No marines or officers yet but I would make my way to the Naval Office in the morning and find out where they were. Now I drank and enjoyed the company of simple sailors. I was as always morose and sullen, but the men seemed happy to take my drink, and spoke of adventures past and those to come. With grins, they showed off tattoos. Horis had one on his belly of a naked lady that he could make dance. I liked them already. I did not say so or join in the merriment, but they seemed honest enough, and would make a fine start at a crew. Then I thought of Harl and Jodlin. They were two men I could use, but Captain Crosp would never let them go. It was hard enough keeping crew, let alone finding new men, and good men to boot. It was a problem for the morning however. There were many problems to be solved in the morning.
The next day I was feeling the worse for wear. I had slept well though. The barmaid had kept her word, showing up in my room after the last man had left or fallen asleep under a table. After eating breakfast at the inn, I found Horis and some of the other men on the ship.
"Mister Horis!"
"Sir?"
"Organise the men. Get the hand pumps going, start cleaning up the ship and sort out my cabin. I have business in town and so you are in charge."
"Me, sir?" Horis was obviously not used to such responsibility.
"Yes you, Mister Horis. I'm promoting you to king of the bastards. Now go and kick the other bastards about and get this ship into some kind of order!"
"Yes, sir. Will do, sir," Horis said, knuckling his forehead.
"Willan!"
"Captain?" Willan had appeared on deck when he had heard his captain.
"Come with me."
"Majesty," said the boy by way of a farewell to Horis as Willan passed the man.
My first stop was at the tailors. I wanted a naval captain’s jacket and so they took my measurements, and then told me to return in a couple of days. I also went to the cobblers and asked for a new pair of boots. They fitted me with a solid pair that should last a couple of years at sea. I gave my old pair to Willan. When all this was done, I went to the Umuron Naval Office which was a three floor stone built building overlooking the harbour. There I saw the supply master who went through some papers, and found orders for food for the ship, had me sign other papers and then told me the supplies would be on the way. My next stop was the personnel master. He was a fat, desk bound naval officer who obviously took an instant disliking to me. He was stuck in a small office behind a small desk surrounded by shelves and stacks of paper. There was a narrow window behind him through which I could see low clouds and seagulls. The man's belly strained at his jacket buttons. The papers were in disorder, and it was obvious that he did not get out much. Pies and wine came to mind. His name and title was Personell Master Smuddagon – an antagonistic bastard.
“You have one officer, seventeen seamen and an engineer.”
“What? Where are the rest? Officers, men and marines?” I said, already knowing there were no more, but I wanted to squeeze the man.
The portly officer leaned back from his papers making his thin chair creak. “That’s all we've got. War on you know.”
"I know there's a bloody war on. I've been fighting it. I need more men!"
"Can't help you there, Captain Ardalrion." He made the word captain sound like a sneer. "No men to spare. No new officers arrived yet."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
"Not for me to say. Perhaps send a letter to the city Naval Office?"
That would take weeks, even months. I needed men now. "Do you know who my father is?" I hated using his name but what choice did he have?
"Lord Admiral Lord Ardalrion. We are well are of you and your family here at the office." Smuddagon said like he didn't care.
"That's right. Do you know how much trouble I would get into if I leaned over that desk, pulled you out of this office and kicked every tooth out of that smug face of yours?" I had no intention of trying. For a start, he doubted I could have budged the fat swine, but Smuddagon got the idea. "That's right. I wouldn't be in much trouble at all, whereas you would have to get used to drinking your dinner through a reed straw."
"Listen," the officer said, sitting up now, nervous of the cold fury in my tone. "I can't do anything about it. There just aren't the men available."
I said nothing. Let the man fill the silence.
"Perhaps press gang them. Go to the taverns and inns, and take the men." He was gesticulating now, trying to be friendlier. "Just try not to rob the other naval ships of their crew."
"What is my officer's name?"
"Erm." He rummaged through more papers. "Kristan Olvan, fresh out of the Academy."
"I see. I need more crew. Take some men from the Sea Huntress. She has a full complement, and wouldn't miss a few. I only need two men: Mister Harl and Mister Jodlin"
"I can't do that, Captain Ardalrion."
"Can't or won't," I demanded.
"Can't! There is no order I can give. No paper I can sign. It has to come from the city." He was plea
ding now.
"I need men. I need officers!" I slammed the table with my fist making Smuddagon jump in his chair. "A surgeon, for the sake of the gods." I then looked him up and down. "You're an officer. You look like you could do with some time on a ship. Must get stuffy in here. Yes?" I stood up to grab Smuddagon. It was only a threat. I didn't want the bloated idiot on my ship but it had the desired effect.
Smuddagon raised his pudgy hands. "Wait, wait! There is a doctor. He's experienced, but he has just been discharged, kicked out of the Navy and told to make his own way back to Norlan."
"Why was he kicked out?"
"Well, he's a drunk. Always swimming with the fish apparently. Took the wrong tooth out of Captain Rantor of The Merciless."
"I like him already. Where is he?"
He told me so I had Willan, who was waiting outside, proudly polishing his new boots, go and find the doctor. I also had the personnel master sign the paperwork reinstating the doctor into the Navy and my crew.
"As for Mister Harl and Mister Jodlin," said the officer. "There just is nothing I can do about it, other than send a request to the Imperial Naval Office of Norlan."
A plan then came to mind, so I filled in the papers together with Smuddagon, and used my family signet ring to make sure the request did not fail. It would take weeks or months, but that was fine. I would have the two men in my crew within days.
"Send any men you can. I need crew!" At that I stood up and stormed out of the office. Pompous swine idiot fat moronic clerk, was all I could think. I returned to the ship and saw a line of men hauling buckets of water from below deck. "Carry on," I called as they stopped when they saw their new captain. "What's going on, Mister Horis?"
"Pumps are all broke, Captain. We're getting the water out of the bilges."
"Where's the engineer? I was told we've got one."
"Down below, me' lord. Having a look at the engine."
"Don't call me lord." I hated it when they did that. I was entitled to it but it made me uncomfortable. "Sir or Captain will suffice, Mister Horis."
Going below, down to the engine room, I saw the engine was being disassembled by a short fellow, covered in black oil. I assumed the man was getting on in years, and had grey or white hair, but even his hair was black with the stuff. He wore blackened overalls and eye protecting goggles. When he saw me, he did not seem to recognise my rank or did not care.
"Hand me that jug of spirits there, lad," said the man with a crackling, aged voice.
Looking round at the workbench, I saw the jug which had a large skull painted on the side. I handed it to him and the engineer grunted his thanks, then poured some on the rag, after which he took a swig of the stuff himself which was followed by an awkward dance and cackle.
"Not bad," he then wheezed holding it out to me. "Have some, lad. Put wind in your sails and fire in your arse. Made it me'self."
Tentatively, I took the jug and sniffed at it. My eyes watered so I put it down. "My name is Captain Ardalrion. I presume you are my engineer?"
"Captain?" He looked me up and down, but still didn't seem too concerned. Stepping forwards, the little man took off his goggles to reveal two circles of white skin with clear grey eyes. He knuckled his head. "Larrans Perti, Captain, at your service. Engineer? Aye, that'll be me."
"Good. How's the engine looking?"
"Well," he scratched his head. "Most of the bits are there, but rust is a problem. We need copper piping too. Someone's pinched a load of it. Brewing spirits on our piping a dare say."
"I see. Where do we get the piping?"
"Where? Only the Black Folk make the proper kind, the kind that'll last. But they'll have some Empire stuff down at the supply yard." He was referring to the Calionvar, the enigmatic black skinned people who originally introduced technomancy to the peoples. I had never met one but I had seen them at port both in the city and Umuron. Mostly they kept to themselves. The most unnerving thing about them, I found, were their eyes: Jet black as was their skin. Not just the pupil but the entire eye, so one never knew where they were looking.
"I'll write a requisition order for you. What else do you need?"
Together we created a list of items required to get the engine running and pumps working. It was a long list and there was a lot of work to do.