Chapter 142: The Last Days of a Ragtag Crew
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~~Day 148 (Command, Day 111)
~~We have a new replacement crew, but the engine crew went down below after lunch and dinner just to make sure the engine was doing all right. I can't really blame them for being concerned; I went with them both times.
~~The knights didn't do many of our usual exercises today. Instead, it was mostly organization and marching drills. And etiquette. They spent more time trying to teach the Gelto how to greet and say thank you to the royal family. And Sello. For some reason, he wants to use the words "snow" and "belly button" in place of "majesty". And then he just randomly says "bacon" whenever he's repeating the knights. I think they're gonna go crazy before they can get him to say anything with any clarity.
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~~Day 149 (Command, Day 112)
~~So the knights had a genius idea to try two-person exercises with the crew. One was standing back to back and passing coils of rope to each other. And they decided to pair up Leynne and Dubbl. Leynne accidentally hit Dubbl in the face with the rope, so she dropped it, spun, and smacked his face. So Leynne smacked her back. And so she punched Leynne in the jaw. And so they both spent the rest of the day running with two of the knights screaming at them at the top of their lungs. I thought they were getting along better than that, but it seems like they hate each other even more than usual.
~~At least Layna didn't put anyone to sleep.
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~~Day 151 (Command, Day 114)
~~Okay, so, Layna drugged everyone's drinks last night and put the whole crew to sleep. I woke up with a piece of jerky sticking out of my mouth this morning. Dholit had arranged it but she claims that she only wanted to knock the knights out so that we had a free day to ourselves. Layna explained that she had spiked the knights' cups of grog, but two of them dumped their cups into the barrel after claiming that it tasted strange. Unfortunately, they went into the water barrel that the rest of us were drinking out of, so we all got a dose. We spent the afternoon recovering since no one was able to fully awaken.
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~~Day 152 (Command, Day 115)
~~The knights decided that, since some of the crew was still drowsy from Dholit's attempt to ditch work, it was a good day to have us get checked out at a clinic. I remember now that the king wanted everyone on all four ships to be healthy and fit. I'm glad to say that the one injury we had, Sello's broken arm, is healed enough that he doesn't need a sling, although I think Sello got rid of his sling a while back. The doctors cautioned that he needed to be careful because the bones were still in the healing phase, but all visible signs of the break were minimal. I took the opportunity to ask about black eyes, and the doctor said that as long as the eye isn't bothered any more afterwards, a black eye will lose most of its visibility after a week. I must have triggered some kind of jinx because just seconds after I asked, Dubbl punched another doctor in the eye for touching her with a cold instrument. I just hope that my crew can avoid punching each other or any of the knights for just a few more days. I'd hate to offend the King of Hyrule by presenting him with an airman sporting a fresh shiner.
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~~Day 153 (Command, Day 116)
~~Well, we're back into our parade training. This time, the knights were trying to teach the crew to march around a corner. It was about as disastrous as could be expected, especially when people have to pivot with Lidago or Helo at the corner; their size makes it hard to tell where the corner is.
~~This evening turned into a pleasant experience with everyone enjoying themselves in the galley for once. Even Irleen, after being so anti-social for so long, joined in on the chatter. But, for future reference, Cale and Lilly making out requires them to take it somewhere else. Dholit wouldn't stop prodding me about "following their example".
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~~Day 154 (Command, Day 117)
~~We did a practice march out to the public square where the whole ceremony is supposed to be taking place. North and his men were out there, too, and the knights instructed us on our position once we reached the square. North "complimented" me on finally having my crew dressed in blue tunics. At least his men aren't sporting anymore broken bones. Come to think of it, that might be why he sounded mad when he made the comment.
~~After that, the knights gave them some liberty, so the crew decided to wander around. I think. I went right back to the ship after I ordered the engine crew to keep an eye on Sello. Being there in that square reminded me of what Zelda told me about the king wanting to knight me. I still haven't decided, and I don't know why. Well, I guess I know why, but it's so hard to put it into words.
~~The rest of the crew returned late this evening, just trickling in two by two. I almost thought we were missing Layna until I remembered to try calling her. She followed me back to the ship. I really don't think she understands the concept of "liberty".
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~~Day 155 (Command, Day 118)
~~Gold approached me about a rumor he heard last night. Somehow, it got out that the "youthful commander of an airship" was going to be knighted at the ceremony in six days. I tried to point out to him that it could have been any airship captain, but I might as well have outright said that it was supposed to be me. I'm hoping that he'll just let the rumor die.
~~Today, the knights went over commands with me and Leynne. Tomorrow, they're going to outline a course for us around the port so we can get in practice at using these marching commands. I had to write most of them down so I don't forget them. It feels like a lot of trouble just to impress the King of Hyrule, but I'd rather not offend him since he probably still doesn't like me taking Zelda into the fight with Cunimincus. Even though I couldn't help it.
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~~Day 156 (Command, Day 119)
~~So, during our drill, part of the crew got lost due to not hearing Leynne clear enough. I guess it's a good thing I march beside the formation, but I still don't understand why everyone behind the chiefs didn't just keep following them. Then I found out that Dholit was subverting Leynne's commands by translating the opposite for the Gelto, and the people behind them didn't know any better. The knights had us repeat the drill, which took the rest of the afternoon.
~~I think Irleen might've gone back to brooding over her people again. I tried to reassure her, like I've been doing the past month, but she just isn't as responsive to it as before. I'm hoping it's just a small phase, and then she'll be back to herself in a couple days. Though it kinda makes me wish Meilont was here; I could use a few more pointers.
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~~Day 157 (Command, Day 120)
~~We did another practice march this morning, and, this time, Dholit didn't mess with it by hollering in Geltoan. Lately, it's been some pretty light exercises, nothing like the intense stuff Gil had us doing when we first started. Either that, or we've just gotten so used to the exercise that we forgot it was supposed to be hard.
~~The knights ended our usual sessions early so that they could go over procedure with all of us. The Island Symphony is set to be the last vessel to have its crew called forward; according to Gil, this is because the crew will be receiving higher honors than the Summer Breeze, the Grand Sails, or the Moon's Shadow. After that is dismissal, which the king will deliver once he's done with us. Before they left, I took Gil aside and asked what I was supposed to do if I decided to go through with being knighted. He was surprised that I found out, but he explained that I would still report back to the Island Symphony since I wouldn't be taking the position until I put in my resignation to the company. And, if I accepted, the King and Zelda would prompt me when necessary. He said it wouldn't be anything too elaborate. I would kneel, the King would draw his sword (the idea of which makes me cringe), tap my shoulders, and I would be knighted. He said I should be proud; most of the other knights only ever get knighted in the throne room where the public couldn't see them.
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~~Day 158 (Command, Day 121)
~~The knights brought me a new uniform to wear to the ceremony. I don't normally critique fashion, but this whole outfit is ridiculous. No one would believe that I'd wear something like this to command an airship. I told them I'd rather just wear my usual tunic. The answer was varying expressions of "don't be an idiot". I think I might have seriously angered one of the Goddesses for this to happen.
~~But the ceremony is just in three more days. After that, if I assume I heard my crew whispering correctly, there will be a bonfire on shore which distasteful uniforms might accidentally find their way in. How sad would it be if my new uniform also wound up in that bonfire?
~~Today was more drilling with commands. Then, late this afternoon, we had a mock ceremony using the quarterdeck as a stage that is supposed to be in the square once the ceremony is ready to begin. It seems simple enough, but it'll look less stupid once we're receiving actual awards and not just draping the same bottle-on-a-rope around each others' necks.
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~~Day 159 (Command, Day 122)
~~Two more days. Everyone on the ship is getting nervous. We went through drills and exercise and marching practice so fast that the knights weren't sure what to do with us this afternoon. So we practiced for the ceremony again. It went better than yesterday, though I hope Sello won't belch in King Lauris's face and pass out. I don't know how we're gonna keep him sober enough for this.
~~Before they left, the knights were sure to get information from us. It was really just names and where we were from, and they explained that this was how the king's staff would be calling us up.
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Link yawned as he stepped into his cabin and closed the door. Hours of reviewing procedure with his crew felt like days to him, and he was ready to ask Layna to knock him out again so that he could be sure he would get some sleep. This in spite of being only early in the evening without the sun even touching the horizon yet. Faint light from the darker eastern sky filtered in through the windows at the back, but Link still found it easier to turn the overhead light on.
And folded and stacked neat on the end of his footlocker was the uniform he was going to wear. He preferred it like this, as it did not look as intimidating. He kicked off his boots toward the footlocker and removed his belt so he could toss it on the stack. The knights had not given him another belt, so he would have to wear the belt he had been wearing ever since he had received his first tunic. It was okay with him since the battered buckle and pinched and chewed leather of the belt itself would do for putting on his gear.
He looked over the list that had been left on his desk. The knights had been specific about his appearance since he was supposed to be an airship captain, not a mercenary. They wanted him to wear the sword he had received from Whittleton, the Yook Charm because it was a small personalization that the knights thought looked good, the new boots they lent him, and the Sorian bracelet for its representation of the Sorian people with which he had had so much contact with. His hat was the only other thing that he was allowed to wear, mainly because it suited his tunic.
"Tomorrow, Irleen," Link said as he skimmed the list once more. "Tomorrow, and this whole ceremony thing will be over. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get outta here."
Irleen took a moment to respond. "Link," she said. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Link replied, giving her bed a brief glance.
"Are you gonna become a knight?"
Link felt a wave of dread washed over him. He looked toward Irleen, but he had fallen into silence with his mouth open in just the slightest show of his shock.
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~~Day 160 (Command, Day 123)
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