Furps took a try. "Lots o' jolly big waves comin' ashore, sah, makin' that swishy noise they always make. Some of that seaweed gettin' washed up also, long, dark, green stuff. Er, some seabirds, too, gulls I think--"
Mullein interrupted him. "You think, laddie buck? Are they guillemots, geese or gulls, have ye been taught nothin' at nature study, wot?"
Tringle cut in, attempting to help her brother. "Actually there's some puffins an' guillemots, ordinary gulls, an' a few kittiwakes, sah. Oh, there's also that small thing, right out there, could that be a ship?"
Lord Asheye stood bolt upright, his head turning this way and that. "A ship ... Where?"
Leaving the tea trolley, Mullein hurried to the broad window space. He peered hard, following the direction of Tringle's paw as she explained.
"Over there, sah, away to the far west, comin' from the north. I think it is a ship, eh, Furps?"
Her brother, who had the keenest sight of those in the forge room, climbed up onto the sill, taking hold of Major
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Mullein's paw as he leaned out. Shading his brow with his free paw, Furps stared intently at the object. His shout echoed around the forge chamber. "It is! It's a bally ship alright, sah, an' it's headin' this bloomin' way, straight t'the blinkin' mountain, if'n y'flippin' ask me!"
Major Mullein lifted him from the sill, with a stern note in his voice. "Less of the barrack room lingo young 'un, Badger Lord present, y'know!"
Furps held a paw to his mouth. "Oops, my 'pologies, sah!"
The ancient Badger Lord seized his walking staff, issuing orders urgently. "Major, gather all officers immediately, tell them to turn out the Long Patrol, full complement, well armed!"
Mullein saluted with his swagger stick. "Right y'are, Lord. I'll have 'em linin' the west shore in full fig, armed t'the eartips. Will ye be attendin'?"
Asheye nodded vigorously. "Send old Ecrea up, tell him to attend the lord's wardrobe, I want to be dressed in full regalia. Oh, I'll need to be bearing some kind of arms, a sword do you think?"
Tringle spoke out boldly, before the Major could answer. "Beg pardon, Lord, but a battleaxe might be better. It looks fearsome, but you can use it to feel your way, just like the staff you have to help you along."
The haremaid winced as Asheye's big paw descended thankfully on her shoulder. "Good idea, young 'un! You and your brother stay here. When I'm ready you can both walk me down to the shore."
Major Mullein did an about turn in the doorway. He beckoned Tringle and Furps to him, whispering to them. "This is your first assignment as Scout Runners. Lord Asheye is under your protection. Guard him with your lives, your very lives, d'ye hear?"
Mullein turned and marched off, leaving behind him two young hares almost bursting with pride.
Drums thundered and bugles blared as Salamandastron roused itself to meet the newcomers.
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The Eulalia dipped its prow to the heaving sea, bucking playfully as it rose, dropping to meet the next wave. Every scrap of sail canvas was taut as the breeze whistled through the rigging. Gorath the Flame stood in the bows with Salixa, watching the majestic mountain growing larger with every moment. Gorath wiped a big paw across his eyes. "Salamandastron, it's like a dream. If only my old grandparents could have lived to see it."
The slender badgermaid patted his shoulder. "They did their best for you, and you lived to see it for them. That would have made them happy."
Orkwil trundled by holding the sword of Martin over his shoulder so that he would not trip. The young hedgehog swept off his floppy hat in an elaborate bow. "Good day, friends. The weather's holdin' fair I trust!"
Salixa smiled at him. "It is indeed, Captain, and how are you today pray tell?"
Reveling in his role as Shipsmaster, Orkwil replied. "Well, marm, exceedin' well, as is all me gallant crew, 'ceptin' ole Rangval, who swears he ain't long for this world. Still y'know wot us saltwater beasts say,
He's far better on land, be it soil, rock or sand, an' quite good up a tree, but he don't like the sea!"
Rangval the Rogue was the only beast aboard to be seasick. The wretched squirrel lay on the af terdeck swathed in a mass of blankets.
Maudie brought him a beaker of fresh water. "Golly, you look like bloomin' death, mate. Try a sip o' this, 'tis only water, but it might help, wot!"
He pushed the beaker away with a plaintive groan. "Water, d'ye say, get it outta me sight, darlin'. Sure an' wasn't it water that's got me this way? Water, goin' up
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an' down, back an' for'ard, side t'side, rollin' an' sloppin', an' never stoppin'. Me ould body'll be dead by the time we make land. No need t'dig me a grave, no, just toss me ould remains anywhere, up in a tree, or down on the grass. Sure, there's not a beast that'll notice me. Bein' so green I'll blend right in!"
Osbil was passing by, he shook his head sorrowfully. "It's been a pleasure knowin' ye, Rangval, me ole mate. Would ye like to do me a partin' favour, seein' as yore dyin'?"
The rogue squirrel managed a weak smile.
"Anythin' fer you, me ould Guosim messmate, name it."
Osbil replied promptly. "Those good daggers ye always carry, could ye let me have them now, just to save us all arguin' over 'em when yore gone."
Salixa arrived in the nick of time, she helped Maudie to restrain Rangval as he tried to hurl the blades at Osbil, ranting furiously.
"Arr, let me at the villain, I'll give him me knives sure enough. One through his black heart, one through his fat-pot belly an' one more through his thievin' paws!" He appealed piteously to the young badgermaid. "It ain't bad enough, havin' to die of the seasickness, miss, but that blaggard wants to rob me lovely daggers!"
Salixa took a small flask from her beltpurse. "Die of seasickness? Nonsense, a good swig of my medicine should put paid to that. Open your mouth!"
Rangval had a horror of medicines. Shaking his head vigorously, he clamped his mouth tight. Salixa passed the flask to Maudie. "Give our friend a good dose when he opens his mouth." She pinched the squirrel's nose, cutting off his air. He struggled wildly to resist, but in the end he had to open his mouth to breathe. Maudie acted swiftly, pouring almost half the flask into Rangval.
The rogue squirrel's tail stood up like a flagpole. "Yooooaaaaarrrrgh! Ye murderers, ye've killed me!"
Amid the laughter he sprinted up the mast, where he sat quivering with rage as he glared down at them.
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Gorath called from his place in the bows as they drew closer to shore. "Look, there's almost tenscore hares in uniform waiting on the tideline for us. I take it they're the famous Long Patrol, Miz Maudie?"
The haremaid began brushing her tunic down and generally trying to look presentable as she answered. "By Jove, there's a sight t'do your jolly old heart good. They've turned the full complement out t'greet us. Stap me scut, there's Major Mull, Corporal Thwurl, Biffy Bigelow, Lanky Lockben, Stinky Scarbuttle an' Big Beau Sullagan. Colour Sarn't O'Flugg an' Colonel Cragglow. Oh look, there's young thingummy an' his sister wotsername, see who they're escortin', it's Lord Asheye himself, wot! Halloooo, milord, ahoy!"
The ancient badger raised his battleaxe to the incoming vessel. Wild cheering broke out on the shoreline. Not to be outdone, the crew of Eulalia added to the din with their joyous shouts. As soon as it was possible, mooring lines were hurled to the vessel from the shore. Scores of willing paws hauled the ship to land. Osbil and his Guosim furled sail, slacking off all rigging. The prow nosed up through the shallows until the entire craft lay heeled onshore.
Maudie leapt down onto the beach, closely followed by Gorath and Salixa. The ranks of warrior hares parted as Lord Asheye and Major Mullein walked to meet them. The haremaid threw a smart salute.
"Hon. Maudie Mugsberry Thropple reportin' back as ordered, sah! Mission accomplished, found Gorath the Flame, er, an' one other, Salixa, very pretty maid. Hopin' you approve. Sah!"