Dragons and Destiny (17 page)

My nemesis is a
fiendish dance called ‘The Military Two Step’. I just can’t manage
it and was in mortal dread of someone booking me for it. Of course
the other Trainees know how hopeless I am at it and would have left
such a dance blank on the card but the outsiders didn’t know and
soon I found my dance card filled almost full.

To my surprise,
Leftenant Hallam (remember, I’ve told you about him before) put his
name down for the first of the two steps and he must have seen the
horror on my face.

‘
I’m not
much good at it either,’ he confided which made me feel much
better. ‘It’s the supper dance,’ he added and to my complete
mystification (Jen had forgotten to explain that), ‘and we can sit
the dance out it that’s what you would prefer.’ I agreed with
relief. I had noted that some of the young girls who had been
invited were showing a marked preference for the unmarried officers
rather than the trainees and I had seen Leftenant Hallam running
the gauntlet of the more determined ones.

Did I say that
when we entered the room I had dragged Jen over to a corner and
made her stand there and watch for a full quarter bell until I
plucked up the courage?

I have to admit
that the dancing went better than I had expected and that although
I didn’t dance all the pre-supper ones I did manage not to disgrace
myself. Father would have been proud of me.

Leftenant
Hallam appeared at my side as the band began the introduction bars
to the measure (that’s what we call the military dances) and guided
me though it (in fact I enjoyed it) then took my arm to lead me in
to supper and then he took my dance card and filled in every vacant
space with his name. We didn’t dance every dance, sometimes we ‘sat
out’ and talked and he told me a bit about himself.

He originates
from the islands and has two brothers younger than him. Liam is a
doctor. He is very clever and won a scholarship to the University.
Ansell, the youngest is in the Navy, serving on one of the frigates
who patrol in the Great Eastern Sea and has seen action against
pirates. He didn’t say anything about his parents, I presume they
are dead; neither did he talk about his home island. When I asked
why he and his brothers left and came to Argyll, he evaded the
question, quite neatly too.

Anyway, me and
Robain Hallam have ‘become an item’. I am the butt of many jokes
amongst the other trainees who seem to think our burgeoning love
affair is rather funny.

Unfortunately
he’s to be posted soon, he has no idea where yet but he will be
gazetted captain next month. We’re hoping his posting will be to
somewhere not too distant, the mainland here would be good but
wherever it is I have a feeling he won’t forget about me.

He keeps
insisting that absence makes the heart grow fonder, I’m not so sure
but I’m hoping because I do like him more than a lot if I’m honest
with myself. It’s strange; I’ve only ever wanted to be a soldier
and never thought I’d meet anyone I might perhaps like to marry.
Fate plays strange games.

So what is
happening at the Inn? Is Mother feeling better or is that cough
still troubling her? Hs father got over Rilla’s desertion? How is
Zak? And you, how are you? Any young man on the horizon? Hurry up
and reply sis; we don’t get leave for ages yet.

Oh, I got a
note from Rilla the other day. I was beginning to think she had
forgotten all about me. She told me a bit about what she is doing
and what the training is like. I think a lot of it is much the same
as ours though the Academie here is far more formal but I suppose I
kinda expected that. The Vada’s command structure (we’ve studied
it) is different, probably because of the Lind.

Anyway, write
soon, must finish because me and Robain are going out for
dinner.

Hilla XXX’

Part of a
letter sent by Zilla to Hilla:

‘…
I was so
pleased to get your letter with the news about Rilla, thought you
didn’t tell me much. Write to her do and ask her to tell us about
everything. I’ve enclosed two silver florins, extravagant I know
but you said she couldn’t afford to send anything by the Express
herself so this should solve the problem. I know you get a
stipend.

Life goes on
here just as usual, except without you and Rilla. I miss her a lot.
Father hired a girl to replace her but I don’t like her very
much.

What makes it
all so difficult is the fact that no one can mention Rilla’s name
in front of Father. Honestly Hilla, I’ve never seen him so angry or
so angry for so long…’

* * * * *

Elliot

The four
intrepid adventurers (how James described them) took ship for
Argyll aboard the
Intoxication
as soon as the storm abated.
Elliot led the way up the gangplank, he and James chattering
together as they stepped on to the upper deck.

The clouds were
still scudding in the sky, the wind lively and James was heard to
wonder if perhaps the storm wasn’t on a return visit.

“Keep silent
until I tell you,” hissed Philip Ross at the unrepentant James
including all three young men in his prohibitive look. Elliot
looked at him with indignant astonishment at the reprimand.

He asked the
Skipper, a dependable looking man of middling years about the
advisability of setting sail in such inclement weather.

The man looked
at the Baron, who was the oldest and in the Skipper’s mind
therefore in charge of the party. He was wondering if James’s
mental capabilities were a penny short of a shilling.

“You landsmen,”
he said with a laugh, “it is only a bit of a blow. Nothing to worry
about.”

The
Intoxication
wasn’t a large vessel but she was sturdy. She
was armed, having been built to carry both passengers and cargo.
There were a plenitude of such vessels plying their trade between
Murdoch, the Islands and Argyll.

Below decks,
whence James and Elliot and then Derek had departed as soon as they
could, the prince made the less than pleasing discovery that all
four of them had been allocated to one cabin. It held four bunks,
smelt of stale sweat, beer and brine and as they entered Elliot,
dumping his travel bag on to the floor perused it with abundant
disfavour.

“Gods James,”
he said, “this is pretty awful. It stinks. Really, I can’t possibly
stay here. I must have a cabin of my own.”

Philip Ross
from outside the door heard him.

First lesson
about to be learned I think … about how others live. I wonder how
he’ll take it?

As the
Prince-Heir Elliot had been pampered all of his seventeen years. He
was accustomed to luxurious apartments, a comfortable bed, well
cooked meals and being served by a plenitude of servants.

“Philip can’t
really expect all four of us to sleep in such a tiny space?”
Elliot’s voice continued, full to the brim of shocked indignation
and disbelief.

“I’m afraid so
Elliot,” Philip heard James Cocteau answer. “You’re far too used to
luxury. This isn’t too bad.”

“Could have
been a lot worse,” intimated Derek Merriman.

“A lot
worse
?” Elliot’s voice was shrill.

“At least this
ship’s got separate cabins for the passengers. I’ve been on one
that the passengers shared the deck space with the sailors.”

“I don’t
believe the captain actually had the audacity to charge coin for
this,” insisted Elliot.

“It was you who
was demanding adventure and escape from the constraints of court
life,” grinned James.

“Not like
this.” protested Elliot.

Derek was
examining the mattresses on the bunks.

“No bugs,” he
informed them in a cheerful voice.

“Bugs.” Words
failed Elliot at this point.

“Yep, none of
the little critters,” continued Derek, “we can just dump our
sleepbags on top of the mattresses and we’ll be as snug as
anything. I for one intend to get to bed as soon as I can and I
advise you both to do the same unless you’re good sailors. It’s
likely to get a bit bumpy.”

“I hate
sailing,” admitted James.

Philip Ross
appeared from behind the narrow door, trying to hide his
amusement.

“Got yourselves
sorted out?” he asked as he squeezed in beside them.

“I’m going to
bed
now
,” decided a pale faced James. “I don’t want any
dinner. Where do we put the packs?”

“On these racks
over there,” Philip answered, pointing. “Untie the sleepbags and
put them on the bunks then swing the packs up on to the racks.
These straps are for tying them on so they don’t fall down if the
weather starts getting lively.”

James looked
green.

“Skipper says
were leaving as soon as the last of the cargo is aboard,” continued
Philip. “He also said he’d send a meal along. Cold fare tonight
apparently, everyone, including the cook helps with the cargo.
Bread and cheese. Sure you don’t want anything James?”

James looked
even greener. Even the steady and gentle rocking of the
Intoxication
was playing havoc with his stomach.

“I don’t think
I’ll bother,” he reaffirmed and began to untie his sleep bag. Derek
had already laid out his and was stowing his pack.

Elliot was
standing watching them.

Philip
remembered the words of Elliot’s father, the Crown-Prince:

‘
Not his
fault Philip, but he’s pampered, never had to do anything for
himself in his life. Can’t go on.’

“Right Elliot,”
said Philip. “Are you in the bunk above the one James has
taken?”

Elliot
nodded.

“Then get your
sleep bag out and on it and pass your pack to Derek. There’s no
room to swing a rudtka in here and we’ll be tripping over it all
night if you don’t get a move on. Come on lad, you’re holding us
up. My pack is still outside.”

Elliot looked
surprised at being called lad by Philip and the older man looked at
him. He felt his anger at being spoken to thus rising and Philip
noticed.

“You are
supposed to be travelling not as a prince,” he reminded Elliot in a
mild reply to Elliot’s angry, unspoken question, “or have I got it
wrong?”

Elliot
reddened, remembering his father’s last words. He knew that his
father had given Philip Ross instructions to treat him exactly as
he would the other two and as a tutor would treat his students. It
was not uncommon for young noble of merchant sons of Murdoch to
visit Argyll under the directive control of a tutor.

“You have no
right to speak to me like that,” growled Elliot, not quite ready to
accept his new status.

“I have every
right,” Philip answered in a calm voice. “It is the right given to
me by your father who put you, his only son, into my care. Any
objections?” Philip stared at Elliot and it was Elliot who looked
away.

“No sir,” he
answered and knelt down to unstrap his sleep bag. He managed it at
last, the buckles being new and stiff and tossed the said bag on to
the bunk above James.

“Throw up the
pack,” encouraged Derek, wondering at finding himself speaking to
the Prince-Heir like this. Derek stowed his pack alongside the
other two.

“I’ll put mine
away later,” said Philip but he did open the door and drag it in,
at the same time looking to see if there were any curious sailors
lingering around. He didn’t think Elliot had been recognised but it
was better to be safe than sorry.

“Remember,” he
said as he closed the door and wedged it shut. “I am who I actually
am and so is Derek here. James and Elliot are of similar rank. You
are now the sons of the minor nobility travelling through Argyll
under my tutelage. Elliot is not a Prince. In fact, Elliot is not
his name.”

“It isn’t?”
asked Elliot. “Father didn’t say anything about me changing my
name.”

“He spoke to me
and nothing was said about it later because we didn’t want anyone
knowing. Walls have ears at Court. Elliot is now Walter Merriman,
Derek’s younger brother with the rank of Kellen. He’ll tell you
about his family over the next few days so that you know what to
answer if anyone asks. James is still James Cocteau, but also with
the rank of Kellen and is of now descended from one of the cadet
branches of the House of Cocteau and not the main one. You both got
that? I don’t want any slip ups. Get the idea of Prince Elliot’s
very existence out of what brains you possess. He is Kellen Walter
Merriman now and I will, you will, treat him accordingly. No
deferring to him, no bowing, no waiting on him. In fact, he becomes
the least important of us all.”

Horrified
amazement on Elliot’s face!

By the time the
ship docked at the harbour at Settlement Elliot had got used to (if
not a hundred percent reconciled) his new status.

Derek had begun
to treat him as the younger brother Elliot was supposed to be from
that first night on board and Elliot felt himself responding in
kind, finding that he was enjoying the experience. Philip treated
all three the same, somewhere in between tutor and mentor. He had
known them for a number of years and found the situation easy to
slip into.

Elliot was
beginning to realise that he wasn’t the only fish in the sea.

It was with
James that Elliot’s problems lay. James was Elliot’s best friend
but it had never been a friendship of equals. Rank in Murdoch was
of paramount importance and James was finding it difficult to cope
with an Elliot of similar rank.

Both of them
dealt with the situation during the voyage by the simple expedient
of ignoring each other.

Philip didn’t
interfere. He was glad that the voyage had taken a few days longer
than expected, the skipper having been obliged to ship his sea
anchor and ride out the storm because it had given them all the
chance to get accustomed to thinking and acting out the new
relationships. James and ‘Walter’ would come to their senses before
they were much older.