Chapter twelve

The Morning Star

The Colonel and young Lady Oranna had reconvened in the officers' mess to continue working on the guest list. They had only been at it for about an hour when the young runner returned, saluting smartly and making a new report.

"Sah, Lieutenant Aubery sends his regards and this message." The young fellow produced from his runner's uniform a slip of parchment on which he'd scribbled the report. Taking a moment to read the words over in his head, he squinted at his own pawwriting. "The ship is a sea otter vessel, originating from the northern shore, according to the colours she's flying. As I told ye earlier sah. One of the watch identified her as The Morning Star. Their crew trades with some of the communities along the coast. The Lieutenant is lighting the torches down by our harbour to welcome the vessel. He estimates it should reach us within the hour. Are there any orders I should relay back to the watch, Sah?"

Hardan thought a moment, then shook his head. "No, no, it seems Aubery has everything jolly well sorted, rather surprised h'actually. Tell the chaps on watch that Lady Oranna and myself will join them shortly. If The Morning Star docks before we come down, please wait for us before carrying on. Oh, and on yer way there would you swing by the kitchens and tell the cooks on duty we're expecting visitors? 'suppose a pot of that hotroot concoction otter folk favour so highly ought to be set out for 'em, wot wot? That is all, lad. Dismissed."

The runner saluted enthusiastically and took off down the hall to fulfill his task.

Oranna began packing up the scrolls and invitation drafts. "Well, I suppose we'd best get ready to greet our visitors. Colonel, is something wrong?"

The old hare stood staring at the draft guest list as if puzzling over something. "Oh, it's nothing, marm. Just the name of the ship tickled something in the ole noggen. Hmm... Morning Star, eh? Why the dickens is that ringing bells? Oh, got it! Starwold - that's the name of that Skipper of Otters. I knew I wasn't losing me touch for names, wot. Come along, M'Lady, best be off."

The hare stood fixing his uniform and fussing over his carefully waxed whiskers in the mirror. Oranna sat back in one of the armchairs, doing her best to stifle a giggle.

"I fail to see what is so funny, miss," Hardan said, pulling out his kerchief to polish the medals decorating his chest.

"Oh, I just find it funny how you haven't got a speck of dirt on you and yet you're nitpicking at just about everything."

"Well, with the stories these chaps tell woodlanders about us Long Patrol, I figure I ought to look the jolly old part." He offered Oranna his paw and escorted her to the harbour lookout post to await the vessel.

….

Evening was starting to settle over the coastlands as the Morning Star approached the harbour of Salamandastron.

Young Kale had been excused from his usual chores and baby minding, so that he could watch the ship pull into port at the legendary mountain fortress. He stood beside Tutsan, trembling with excitement and fear. His mother had often told him stories of Salamandastron and the warriors who lived there. Through the light of the torches lit on the beach, he could make out the ranks of hares awaiting the vessel's arrival. The light created strange shadows on the shoreline and reflected off the forged steel of the blades and lance tips the hares carried. The young sea otter felt as though he were sailing into a dream world. Kale had never met any hares before running into Tutsan's patrol. Eyeing the vast array of weapons, the thought occurred to him that perhaps not all hares were as friendly as Tutsan. He immediately dashed behind the hare, clinging to the hem of the Captain's uniform.

"What's the matter, young Kale me bucko? Ye have nothing t'fear from that lot. A load of flipping windbags, if y'ask me." He chuckled and leaned downward, gesturing to the young otter that he wanted to let him in on a secret. Looking about to see if anybeast was watching, he whispered in the otter's ear. "Truth be told, old lad, that lot are as soft as a jolly old feather pillow. All that pomp 'n' pageantry on the beach is just for show, dontcha know. Got to keep up a reputation, wot. Now, will ye look at that tall fellah in the front there?"

Tutsan gestured to indicate his brother Aubrey, whom he could make out standing in the front ranks. Kale followed his pointing paw and nodded.

"He used to suck his paw right up until he was made officer. Doesn't seem so scary now, does he?"

Kale giggled, picturing the smart-looking figure on the shoreline sucking his paw like a baby.

Tutsan was about to hail the troops on shore when Skipper came on deck a,look of urgency painted on his features.

"It's the hare babe! Come quickly!"

Nothing more needed to be said. Tutsan went into a dash towards the cabin where he'd left the infant sleeping. Bursting though the door, he found Margie soothing the distraught Alton while Blodwen cradled the coughing and sputtering Letti in her arms. Blodwen as always was the picture of sense and calm, never one to become flustered or panic while she worked. This was a sharp contrast to the reaction Tutsan was having. Fearing the worst, he rushed towards the child only to be pushed away by Blodwen.

"She needs air, Captain. The sooner we can get her to the infirmary in the mountain, the better. She's out of danger now, though. She started having a fit, but the worst of it is over. Gave little Alton here quite the scare. If it hadn't been for his crying, we might not have made it in time."

…..

Aubery watched as the ship loomed closer and closer. The selected hares stood at attention waiting orders, even though none suspected the vessel to be a threat of any kind.

"Ahoy to the ship! Identify yourselves!" he called out in his best Patrol manner.

Skipper leaned on the rail, calling out to the hares on shore. Not wanting to be outdone by the hares, he replied in his most formal tone, "This is the Morning Star. We bring news from the south on the orders of Captain Tutsan Linwood. The Captain and Corporal Blodwen have accompanied us. We also have a very sickly infant onboard who must be seen to immediately. Permission to land, sir."

"Permission granted!" Aubery said swiftly and nodded to the hares to catch the lines and help the vessel dock.