John Flanagan: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja

'It was neither of those things,' Halt said finally, and they all turned to look at him. 'I asked Shigeru,' he explained. 'He said that they had all noticed how Will's mind and imagination darts from one idea to another at such high speed, backwards, forwards, sideways, in a totally unpredictable pattern – something I've noticed myself. Actually, it's a pretty fair name for you when you think about it.'

Will looked mollified. 'I suppose it's not too bad if you put it that way. It's just it does seem a bit…girly.' He sensed the stiffening of attitude from Evanlyn and Alyss and hastened to qualify his words, 'Which I, for one, don't mind a bit. It's a compliment, really. A term of great respect, in fact.'

'I like my name,' Horace said, a little smugly. 'Black Bear. It describes my prodigious strength and my mighty prowess in battle.'

Alyss might have let him get away with it, if it hadn't been for his tactless remark about Will's cloak flapping like a butterfly's wings.

'Not quite,' she said. 'I asked Mikeru where the name came from. He said it described your prodigious appetite and your mighty prowess at the dinner table. It seems that when you were escaping through the mountains, Shigeru and his followers were worried you'd eat all the supplies by yourself.'

There was a general round of laughter. After a few seconds, Horace joined in. Halt, watching him closely, thought to himself how well this young man had turned out. Courageous, loyal and with unsurpassed skill with weapons, he was a credit to Baron Arald's Ward and the Castle Redmont Battleschool. Halt didn't factor in that his own influence and example might have played some role in forming such a strong and likeable character.

'Well,' said Evanlyn, 'we're going to have to find another title for him soon.'

They all looked at her, puzzled by her words. Will, glancing at Horace, noticed that his best friend had gone beet red with embarrassment. Evanlyn, sitting close beside Horace, jogged him gently with her elbow.

'Tell them,' she said, grinning broadly. Horace cleared his throat, humphed and harrumphed several times and finally managed to speak.

'Well, it's just that…you see…we're sort of…' He hesitated, cleared his throat two or three more times, and Evanlyn jogged him again, a little less gently.

'Tell them,' she repeated and the words came in a rush, like water from a collapsing dam.

'LastnightIproposedtoEvanlynandshesaidyes…' He managed to slow down and said at a more comprehensible speed, 'so when we get home, we're going to be married and I hope -'

He said more. But nobody heard him in the general whoop of delight and congratulations that erupted from his friends. The Skandians looked up, startled at the sudden commotion. Halt turned to Gundar as Will surged across the deck to embrace first Horace, then Evanlyn, his face alight with joy for the two of them, his heart swelling with happiness.

'Gundar!' Halt cried. 'Break out some of our special provisions, and some wine and ale. We're having a party tonight!'

'I'm for that!' Gundar said, grinning broadly. He'd heard Horace's announcement and he was delighted for the two young people. Word of the engagement flashed along the rowing benches where the crew were relaxing. There was a roar of delight from the forward bench, then the bear-like figure of Nils Ropehander came lumbering down the deck, bellowing congratulations.

'What's that? The General? Engaged? Well, General, here's my hand in congratulations!'

The expression here's my hand turned out to be a loose one. Nils scooped Horace up in a massive bearhug of delight. The hug, unlike the expression, was not a loose one. When he released Horace, the young groom-to-be crumpled, moaning breathlessly, to the deck. Nils then turned to Evanlyn. She stood up warily and began to back away. But the sea wolf quickly seized her hand, bowed, and raised it to his lips, delivering a wet, smacking kiss.

'I expect to be a pageboy at the wedding!' he bellowed.

Evanlyn grinned, surreptitiously wiping her wet hand on her jacket.

'I think I'd like to see that,' she said. She looked at Alyss, saw the pleasure in the tall girl's eyes. 'Speaking of official duties, I hope you'll be my bridesmaid?'

'I'll be delighted,' Alyss said. 'And I assume that means I'll finally get to finish a wedding dance with Will.'

There was no question in anyone's mind that Will would be the best man. At Halt's wedding, his dance with Alyss had been interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Svengal, with the news that Erak was being held to ransom.

'I've got a great idea!' Horace said, having recovered most of his breath. He looked around the circle of his closest friends. 'We've got the bridesmaid and best man right here. Why not have the wedding now? Gundar's a ship's captain. They can perform weddings, can't they, Halt? You could marry us, couldn't you, Gundar?'

'I'm not sure that's such a great idea…' Halt began but Gundar cheerfully overrode him.

'Gorlog's teeth, boy, I don't know if I can or not. But tell me the words and I'll say 'em for you!'

'Um, Horace, darling,' Evanlyn said, choosing her words carefully, 'Gundar isn't so much a ship's captain as a reformed pirate and a heathen.' She looked apologetically at Gundar. 'No offence, Gundar.'

The skirl shrugged cheerfully. 'None taken, little lady. It's a pretty fair description. Not sure about the reformed part,' he added thoughtfully.

'I'm not sure my father would totally approve of us getting married here. I think he might like to know about it first,' Evanlyn continued.

Horace, unabashed, shrugged. 'Fine,' he said. 'It was just an idea. But if you say no, then no it is.'

Halt stepped closer to him and patted him gently on the arm.

'Get used to that,' he said.

They celebrated long into the night. When the others had all retired, Will and Alyss stood together, his arm around her waist, hers around his shoulders, in the bow of the ship. It was a beautiful night and the moon hung low to the horizon, casting a silver path down the dark water towards them.

Astern, they could hear the occasional low murmur of conversation from the crew on watch.

'I'm glad you and Evanlyn are finally friends,' Will said.

Alyss laid her head on his shoulder. 'Me too. She's really quite a girl.'

'She is indeed,' he said. Alyss raised her head to look at him.

'You didn't have to agree quite so readily,' she told him. Then she smiled and put her head back on his shoulder.

'So…they're getting married. Horace and Evanlyn. How about that?' Will shook his head in wonder.

'Indeed,' she said, not sure where this conversation was going.

'You know…' He paused, seeming to gather his resolve, then continued, 'Maybe you and I should think about doing something like that.'

Her head came off his shoulder. Her arm slipped from around him and she stepped away from him.

'Maybe you and I should think about doing something like that?' she repeated, her voice rising with each word. 'Is that your idea of a proposal?'

'Well…I…er…' Will began. But he had no idea where to go, what to say. In any event, Alyss gave him no chance to continue.

'Because if it is, you're going to have to do a whole lot better!'

She turned away and strode off down the deck, taking long, angry paces. Will made an ineffectual gesture after her, then stopped. He sensed he'd got that wrong. Really wrong. He could see her slim back, stiff and upright, radiating total outrage.

What he couldn't see – and what she had no intention of letting him see – was the huge, delighted smile that was lighting up her face.