Free Voyage of the Owl by Belinda Murrell

Drummond regretfully. ‘I will ask the fisherfolk to look out for her. Now you had better go. The villagers can’t hold the Sedahs off forever.’
    Lily clutched his arm.
    ‘How are our horses, Master Drummond?’ she asked anxiously.
    Master Drummond smiled at her.
    ‘Your other horses are all well too and happily guzzling on my very best oats,’ he laughed. ‘Now go.’
    ‘May the Moonmother bless you,’ smiled Lily in relief. ‘Please look after them for us. We will be back for them soon.’
    ‘Don’t you worry, little miss,’ assured Master Drummond. ‘Your horses will be fat and feisty when you return, ready for more adventures. Now you look after yourselves and make sure you do indeed return.’
    Ethan grinned. ‘We will, sire, don’t you worry. And thank you again for your help. We really do appreciate it.’
    Master Drummond looked down at Roana, standing on the beach. He bowed low from the waist.
    ‘And you, little master,’ he said softly. ‘May the Sun Lord keep you safe on your journey and return you to us very soon.’
    Roana blushed and nodded gravely. Fox glanced at Roana curiously, his keen eyes assessing her swiftly.
    Lily and Ethan gave Nutmeg one last caress, then threw their packs into the boat. Ethan encouraged Aisha to scramble into the bow. Fox leapt aboard,followed by Lily and Roana. Saxon and Ethan shoved the boat hard, to propel it out past the surf.
    Master Drummond waved farewell, then turned and galloped off up the beach, sand flying up from Nutmeg’s hooves. The boys had just leapt into the boat and grasped hold of the oars when a shout from the shore caught their attention yet again. It was Master Drummond.
    ‘Wait,’ he called softly. ‘We have something for you.’
    From the shadows a stout figure struggled up the beach. When it came nearer they could see it was the fishwife from Ainsley. She held something in her hands.
    ‘I found your kitten,’ she called proudly. ‘She were nearly speared by that Sniffer. But I tipped a tray of my best octopus over his head. Terrible waste of good food! But it stopped him. I followed as fast as I could.’
    Lily tumbled out of the boat to snatch little Charcoal into her arms. She gave the fishwife a huge, sodden hug.
    ‘Thank you. Thank you,’ Lily cried, kissing Charcoal on the nose.
    ‘We saw you clobber old Sniffer over the head with octopus,’ Ethan laughed. ‘It was one of thefunniest things I’ve ever seen. I didn’t know you were doing it to save Lily’s kitten!’
    ‘’Twas my pleasure,’ the fishwife answered gravely. ‘I’d rather die than let a bunch of Sedah bullies get the better of a band of Tiregian rebels, even if they are children. Especially when one is, well, you know …’
    She glanced at Roana, then dropped her eyes shyly, bobbing a deep curtsey.

Ethan and Saxon rowed strongly. The dark shadow on the water grew in size, until they could see the shape of the boat. On either side of the bow were painted two large round eyes, which glimmered eerily in the moonlight as if watching their arrival.
    ‘The Owl ,’ announced Fox proudly, as the rowboat pulled alongside.
    At the stern was a rope ladder so they could clamber up easily. Fox led the way aboard the Owl , after firmly tying the rowboat to the stern. Aisha was hauled up by Lily and Ethan.
    The Owl was a two-masted schooner, about twenty-five metres long. It was fast and manoeuvrable, and could be handled by a small crew, making it an ideal smuggling boat. The Owl could outrun most ships on the ocean. It could slip into small hidden coves, collect its booty and slip away without being seen.
    Fox led the way down some steep stairs into a narrow passageway. To the left was a door to a small cabin, while to the right were two berths, one above the other. The passageway led forward to the main saloon cabin, with low head room. Here Fox lit a couple of lanterns, which cast a flickering orange glow in the small space.
    ‘Take a seat, me laddies and