IDYLL: PART 2

They rode to the prosperous village of Lionmead at the edge of a sheltered shell-shaped bay after breakfast, meeting Drinian on the stout stone wharf. "And all this, most eminent Majesties, was wood and pasture merely five years ago?" exclaimed Rameesh, ducking away from the stocky Black Dwarves who dashed from the single-storey grey stone square of the Admiralty to catch the newcomers' bridles. "Such elegant architecture, and these fine stone houses, all so recent? Such a forest of masts so newly raised? Gracious sovereigns! My commendations!"

"All compliments should be directed to my Lord High Admiral," said Caspian with a grin. "Why! To build a single man-'o-war and man her for such a wild venture as I required; to make mariners of a people long terrified of the sea; to create a fleet of merchant ships and a dockyard fit to maintain them; then persuade our people to trade with Galma and the other isles… all these things were considered impossible by my Lords of the Great Council!"

"Your Majesty's Great Council had not a seaman aboard, Sire; can't expect an assembly of lamentable lubbers to recognise what needs to be done." With a wink to the smart gathering of his staff, human, dwarf and faun alike, who gathered to cheer the royal party at the Admiralty door, Drinian shooed his little party down the quay to the Dawn Treader's anchorage, where her gangway had been lowered in readiness. "A good deal of intelligence and precious little sense, that's what your first plans had!"

"Most admirable Lord!" exclaimed Rameesh, clasping his long hands. Caspian laughed.

"Dear Drinian!" he said fondly. "Gracious, Highness, I'm not offended! My virtuous predecessors will confirm: the one subject who says what he feels a king ought to hear in place of what he would wish to hear is more precious than rubies!"

"I'll say," agreed Edmund warmly. "Must say though, Drinian, the fleet's a credit to you, Caspian's right. And we never thought to use this place as an anchorage."

"Can't imagine why not, Sire; the curve o' the coast makes it the most protected harbour we have."

"Takes a sailor to see it, Ed, don't be too hard on yourself," said Eustace helpfully.

"Most likely," Drinian agreed, casting a speculative glance up to the main deck. "Now, we're short on time, as Your Highness has been kind enough to arrange a tour of your ship. Your Majesties – Imperial Highness."

"Oh no, my friend!" Rameesh paused with one curve-toed shoe hovering over the walkway's end. "The senior officer present – to whit, my Lord High Admiral – is first to board and last to leave the ship. Naval discipline must be maintained, eh?"

"As Your Most Aggravating Majesty pleases." With a grin to the children that brought a scandalised O to their honoured guest's lips, Drinian sauntered aboard, tossing off a careless return to Rhince's parade-ground salute. "All in order?"

"Aye, Cap'n. Your Majesties – Eustace – Imperial 'ighness."

"My deputy, Rhince, Sir." Drinian's words emerged clipped, Lucy thought, as if he too noticed tension in the hand Rameesh extended to the sturdy, plain-dressed sailor. "This is His Imperial Highness' vizier Alyoshka Tarkaan, Master Mate; and this his captain, Lasarel. Make 'em comfortable and ensure the men mind their manners."

"Glad to, Sir."

"No he isn't," whispered Eustace. Lucy trod decisively on his foot.

"Neither would you be. Oh, jolly good, we're starting below. Captain! You will let us climb to the fighting top?"

"Doubt I could stop Your Majesty." Rameesh's glance had lifted instantly to the crow's nest circling the masthead, and to Edmund's delight the Calormene looked faintly sick. "Queen Lucy is as nimble about the rigging as any of the crew, Sir; we've a job to keep up with her when she goes aloft."

"You're much too kind, Drinian." The girl blushed. Rameesh snatched her hand to slobber upon.

"Most renowned Queen!" he cried. "Your courage was lauded in the days of my most estimable and warlike ancestors (may Tash, the inexorable, the invincible, guide their spirits!) On the throne of my father, the delight of mine eyes, I place this wager: that my honourable Lord Drinian gives no greater praise than is your due!"

"Indeed." Behind their guest Caspian could see the shoulders of the officer on watch (Rynelf, he thought) heaving with repressed laughter. "Through the hatch here, Sir, we have the Great Cabin - mine, save when a royal lady is aboard – and facing, that of our gallant Captain."

"Do mind your head, Highness," added Lucy helpfully, wincing in readiness for the crunch of skull against timber. She suspected Eustace wasn't alone in scowling at her for raising the alarm.

"It's too bad of you," she muttered, giving each boy a jab with her elbows. "I know he's an insufferable bore, but he is a guest! You'll find Drinian's cabin very simple, Imperial Highness; he doesn't believe in using it very much! Are we really to tour your ship after?"

"Indeed, most ancient Queen, it will be the greatest honour my servant Lasarel could know to display our great galley to you!" Rising sharply from his accustomed bow, Rameesh smacked straight into the low cabin ceiling, giving his turban a dazed pat. "My Lord Drinian, I beseech you tell me! How can a man so tall endure this box for a length of time at sea?"

"By spending as little time inside as my duties allow, Your Highness." Swiftly moving across to shield Eustace's broad grin, Drinian guided them out of his cramped living space and across to the Great Cabin with its gilded Lion mural; enough, Edmund hoped, to terrify the supposed direct descendant of Tash. "We tried to decline Captain Lasarel's invitation, Lucy," the Captain added under his breath, and she squeezed his hand, thankful for his dismayed compassion. "Wager they'll keep us above the oarsmen's area, at any rate! Yes, Your Majesty, we're coming. Down the ladder with care, everyone; it's a steep descent to the bottom of the hold!"

Lucy was sure she had never been prouder to be a Queen of Narnia. The Dawn Treader overshadowed her Calormene neighbour in every way imaginable, even though they were carefully spared the horror she envisaged lurking below among the oarsmen's benches. Captain Lasarel, mumbling and languid, had less seamanship, she was sure, than Eustace; the dandified officers who strutted about the Bolt of Tash's narrow fore and aft castles reminded her more of show poodles in England than mariners. She didn't dare look at Drinian; just walking a pace ahead, she could sense his bristling indignation.

"Mast's there for show, Ma'am, and a paltry one, at that," he muttered when, taking advantage of the noisy confusion of departure, she asked his unvarnished opinion. "Can make good speed under oars in a flat calm, but in a gale I'd as lief take my chance in a leaking barrel as such an unweatherly barge as this! Captain Lasarel, thank you again for your hospitality."

"Most honoured Admiral, our pleasure in receiving your Grace's party is redoubled!" trilled Lasarel with one of Calormen's customary flourishing bows. "Perhaps your Nobility might consider adding such a craft to your own most estimable fleet?"

Edmund turned sharply from Rameesh's Vizier, narrowly missing a head butt to the chest. Lucy thought every Narnian ear had pricked to catch Drinian's measured reply.

"In such chancy waters as ours, Captain, such a vessel would lose the advantages I'll wager are enjoyed in the calmer seas farther south. If Your Majesties are ready to disembark…"

"Gladly," said Caspian, with more feeling than tact. "We have a good ride north to Etinsmere, Your Highness, and the ladies will be very cross if by our dawdling dinner is delayed!"

"For the pleasure of the most esteemed Lady of Etinsmere – and Your most serene Majesty's venerable consort…." cried Rameesh, yanking the silvery beard of his cringing captain. "To horse!"

"And so we fled the castle with the shrieks of my aunt ringing in our ears!" Caspian had to raise his voice over the laughter sweeping around Etinsmere's long dinner table. "I still say, my Lord Drinian, the mouse in Aunt Prunaprismia's shoe was the best of all our pranks!"

"Certainly caused the most distress to the termagant, Sire." Drinian lifted his goblet. "And no, Peepiceek; the mouse in question was assuredly not one of your people. Even the Lady Prumaprismia's slippers were not that big."

"Our Dumb brethren enjoyed an honour we more fortunate Mice would have relished, my Lord!" Perched on a stack of books and cushions, Reepicheep's mischievous successor brandished a crust between his paws. "Though we had not the misfortune of personal acquaintance with His Majesty's aunt, Imperial Highness, her notoriety reached every corner of the realm."

"I doubt not, most noble Beast, your presence would have been a thousand times more terrible to the lady." Rameesh's neck creaked with the minimal effort of movement made to bring the Mouse into the edge of his vision. Caspian pursed his lips.

"He's a Calormene, Caspian," whispered Edmund. "He doesn't mean to offend; they're just not used to animals that talk back."

"I think he's jolly determined to offend," muttered Eustace, winning an assenting sniff from the bushy-bearded Red Dwarf opposite. "Ow, and now he's pawing Isabella again!"

"Just as well she's engaged, or we might have another Rabadash on our hands." Edmund shuddered at the memory. "Imperial Highness, why don't you try some of these sugared strawberries? They're from Glasswater aren't they, Daniela?"

"Aye, King Edmund; my husband's more rugged territories produce little soft fruit, Imperial Highness." Daniela smiled at the man in the place of honour at his hostess's right hand, only to find him staring down the table away from her.

"Fortunate for us all my cousin is affianced," whispered the King. "Else we might never be rid of these pestilential visitors! Imperial Highness, will you join us in visiting Beruna two days from now? My cousin's town, as you know, is one of the finest in the kingdom."

"It will be my privilege to visit the natal place of so esteemed a princess, Sire."

"She's a Duchess, actually," muttered Eustace. "I say! Isabella, I know Caspian calls you his cousin, but what is the relationship, exactly?"

"My great-grandfather was brother to His Majesty's, Eustace." When she would have stretched for the fruit bowl, Rameesh sprang to his feet and made a performance of carrying it along the table to her. "Thank you, Your Highness, but please: do resume your seat, my Lord Trumpkin will surely return the bowl to its rightful place."

"Indeed, most esteemed lady!" Still, he hovered at her shoulder until she had made her choice, ceremoniously bearing the bowl back to the centre of the table. "However, I would not disturb the honourable creat – gentleman from his feast. Estimable Kings – virtuous Queens! Noble gentlemen and ladies – and Beasts, of course! Allow me once more, in the name of my father, the delight of mine eyes; in the name of the Tisroc (may he live for ever!) to toast the most gracious and hospitable people it was ever your humble servant's good fortune to know!"

"Your Royal Highness is most generous." Edmund, facing him, sensed Drinian tensing in readiness for the flood of flowered support from the shrivelled lips of Alyoshka Tarkaan, cowering beside Trufflehunter at the far end of the table. Had their shrewd host placed him between a Badger and a Faun on purpose? He suspected so.

"Just as well, too!" said Eustace when they could snatch a moment in the large square entrance hall to talk, their hosts being engrossed in the Calormenes' extravagant leave-takings. "Gosh! He barely spoke a word apart from quite so, reverend Highness! and oh indeed, O noble and virtuous Prince! all evening. Can't we leave him with Peep and Trufflehunter for the rest of their stay?"

"Don't be horrid, Eustace; they get tired of him too." Lucy ducked behind the boys with hands folded inside her gown's loose fur-trimmed sleeves. "I don't want to be dribbled over again this evening," she said defensively. Edmund gave her shoulder a friendly squeeze.

"We'll protect you, Lu," he promised. "Pity there's nobody to defend poor Isabella! He's pawing her again!"

"Besotted, Your Majesties." Trufflehunter took advantage of his superb camouflage to melt into the darkness behind them. "A fortunate chance His Archenlandish Majesty gave consent to her marriage before our guests arrived, or a second contender might have offered himself."

All three children shuddered. "What a ghastly thought!" said Lucy. Even Eustace, she thought couldn't find good reason to argue with that.