The Longships~Enya

The Longships~Enya

 

Irish Gaelic Translation

"We are alive.

Forever and ever."

The Longships, the famed war ships of the Vikings. The Irish Annals tell us that the first Viking raid in Ireland was at a place called Rechru (Rathlin Island) in 795. By 841 Dublin (Duibh-Linn or black pool) was one of the first Viking settlements or Longphorts in Ireland.

Lilliana DeTao

Lilliana DeTao is a wealthy Italian merchant and the captain of the ship Polaris, which she inherited from her father who was a very savvy business ram.  Lillian and Argyle had a romantic past while he was still in the Royal Navy and haven’t seen each other since.  That is, until one day they cross paths in Port Portimao, Portugal.  The reunion is met with mixed emotions from both, which leads the two running after each other and then away from each other.  She is a very strong, vibrant, well-traveled and intelligent sheep who is a stunning beauty, which is probably why Argyle and Lilliana didn’t last; they both had to be the center of attention.  Even though their relationship didn’t work and often get annoyed with each one another’s company, they trust each other and make strong allies when they are in the thick of battle.

Zumbehl

Zumbehl is the hog you want to know in Port of Portimao.  Not only is he Chuck’s best mate, but he is the grandnephew of one of the oldest sea hogs around, Regan, who is from Barvaria, and who can get you all the information you need.  Though Zumbehl may be a slight slow witted, he has a huge heart and would do anything for his friends and family.  He is also the best ship carpenter around and can procure strange and exotic items that come in to the port.  If you have job to be done, this is the hog for you.

Chuck

Charles “Chuck” Cardigan is the port master at the Port of Portimao. Chuck is a mutt of a dachshund and a corgi…a dorgi and the most jovial animal you will ever meet.  He is madly in love with the sea and lives to hear about all the adventures that the sailors have.  The only thing that this little dorgi loves more than the sea is Magdalena Mendoza.   He is head over heels in love with her and whenever he gets the chance he showers her with gifts.  This attention drives Magdalena crazy, for she does not share the love that Chuck has for her.  To him Magdalena is the rising sun, but she avoids him like the plague. Argyle often uses the poor dorgi’s puppy love to his advantage and allows Chuck to consistently gift them their needed supplied and safe harbor.  Even though this pup is small in stature he has a big heart and is not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. 

Lampito, the Fair Isle Sage

 

Lampito Arbuckle is Argyles mother and resident sage on the Fair Isle. As the sage, Lampito has a vast knowledge of the history of the sea and that of antiquity as well as her own selections of home brew remedies past down for generations. The Grey Gulls takes a side trip to the Fair Isle to gain some insight on their journey and pick up a few supplies. However, unbeknownst to Argyle, his mother has other plans. She doesn’t want to sit by and wait for her son to come back with her other missing son, but join the adventure herself. Like any respectable pirate Argyle is very much against this idea, but finds that not really up to him to declare on where his mother can and cannot go. Even though it’s against his wishes Lampito joins the journey and proves herself useful. If you can’t find her in the galley invading the doctor’s space, she is either in the captain’s quarts going over ancient maps or knitting on the main deck, supervising the crew.

Commander Marcus

Commander Marcus, the Great Pyrenees, is in second of command of the S.S. Albatrosses.  Marcus is a strait laced kind of military man and plays everything by the book.  Though he is extremely loyal to his command, country and crown, he defiantly does what’s right and has a big heart.  Marcus is the one that everyone wants as a leader and some even believe has more nautical and military sense then Mittens and should be the chief leader of the S.S. Albatrosses.  The Commander and Argyle have a wonderful past of attending the academy together and lifelong best friends. Even though Argyle is a renegade pirate now, he knows that he can truly depend on Marcus to help him in his time of need, but that friendship also comes with the cost that Argyle must also help Marcus out when he needs it as well.

Admiral Mittens

Admiral Horatio Mittens, commander of S.S. Albatrosses in British Royal Navy, has a history with Argyle.  They both went to the naval academy together, though I wouldn’t use the word friend to describe their relationship, but more along the line of nemesis.  Where Argyle thrived in being a natural on the water, Mittens lacked nautical knowledge and was better suited for military protocol than going to sea.  Even though the Admiral may lack skills in leadership and in everything else that had to do with seafaring, his ego surpasses his size and has an attitude to match.  It is no wonder that the Admiral and Argyle do not get along when their paths cross.  In fact, Admiral Mittens relishes in the thought of gloating to Argyle every chance he gets about his title in the Royal Navy and the behemoth of a ship he commands.  It takes all of Argyle’s strength not to pummel Mittens when he brings up Argyle’s questionable past and the last choices he made as a commander in the Navy.

Calypso~John Denver

 

John Denver wrote Calypso after the time that he spent with Jacques Cousteau and his crew.  With John Denver being an activist for nature he found the best nautical muse in Jacques Cousteau’s adventures and explorations of the mysterious sea.  Together they collaborated with poignant lyrics and a stimulating melody that stays with us on each of our own journeys.

Argyle, The Sheepish Pirate

             Argyle, the Sheepish Pirate, captain of his ship the Grey Gulls.  Argyle is a Scottish Ram whose family hails from the Fair Isles and who was once a commander in the British Royal Navy.  The ram went A.W.O.L. after a fierce sea battle in the Mediterranean where he lost his twin brother, Commander Alastair Arbuckle.  Argyle, now turned pirate, has spent the last five years looking for his brother, collecting a crew of outlaws, ruffian rouge fighters and misfits to join him on his journey.  Even though the captain is often persecuted and laughed at by all who believe his brother dead, Argyle keeps his eyes on the horizon and searching through out all the seven seas, trying to find any clue to help him find his missing brother.



Doctor Tabebe

                     

                 Doctor Tabebe is the oldest crew member of the ship, though no one knows how old he is, not even his nephew Yatzee.  An old goat from Greece, Tabebe brings a vast lost knowledge of medicine and history to the ship.  At times the doctor may seem a bit off his rocker and half crazed, every movement and action he does has a purpose, though at times you don’t always see it until the end.  Though he is one of the most trusted crew mates of the ship, the doctor also has a few secrets up his sleeves that will prove to be the missing puzzle piece on their sea faring journey.

Magdalena Mendoza

                      Magdalena “Maggie” Mendoza, a jindo dog, is the only female crew member and is the navigator of the ship.  Originally from Barcelona, Spain little is known about her past, and only her captain is aware of the truth behind her running away to join a pirate ship.   Magdalena is as nautical savvy as she is fierce. She knows the seven seas like the back of her paw and is cold as the Arctic Ocean, coining the nick name…the Ice Queen, though you would never call her that to her face. While Magdalena is at the helm she will bark orders that you better follow or you fall victim to this hell hounds bite.

Gerard, the fencing fugitive turtle from France

                   Here we have a sneak peek into chapter two with the character Gerard, the suave fencing fugitive turtle from France.  Years ago he was a master swords man in the French country side, that is, before dueling was outlawed.  One day he was set up to duel for the honor of a friend and he was caught red handed.  Gerard had to flee his beloved home land and take to the sea as a boatswain, the chief carpenter of the ship.  Now he fills his days sailing around the world and dueling when he can, but he never forgets his home.  Gerard hopes that one day he can find who set him up, clear his name and return home with honor. 

The Fair Isle

In chapter three Ryeland and Babette find themselves in the middle of a nautical adventure and make their way north of the Great Britain. On their journey north they see the Aurora Borealis in the night sky and meet a strange and mystical sage who lives at Sheep Rock.  Ryeland also makes his very first friend with a young Icelandic sheep names Zilla. Ryeland’s attitude starts to pick up and turn around on this adventure. He starts to think that maybe it wasn’t the worst thing in the world to be an accidental stow away on a pirate ship.   Here is an artist’s rendering of The Fair Isle which is an island in northern Scotland, lying around halfway between mainland Shetland and the Orkney Islands. It is famous for its bird observatory and a traditional style of knitting. 

Yatzee the Fainting Goat

                   At the end of chapter one we meet Yatzee, he is the first mate of the ship and a myotonic goat, a.k.a a fainting goat.  A fainting goat is a domestic goat whose muscles freeze when the goat feels panic, resulting in the goat to fall over.  This has proven to be a bit of an issue for Yatzee when it comes to sea battles, scary situation, lighting, or just plain loud noises.  Some have questioned to why he is the first mate of the ship with his condition, but Yatzee always tries his hardest to be there when it counts and never falters in his duties as first mate, even though he might pass out and awake a few hours later after the troublesome situation has passed.  Though he might be viewed as weak, this goat holds a secret that will prove useful in the end.

Why Should I Cry For You?

A beautiful sea faring song by Sting and featured on the documentary The Living Sea. The essence of this song is the muse for the character Magdalena Mendoza, who was born under the Dog Star and the whole Mendoza family from Barcelona, Spain. The best sea navigators in all of Europe.

“Why Should I Cry For You” by Sting

Under the dog star sail

Over the reefs of moonshine

Under the skies of fall

North, north west, the Stones of Faroe

Under the Arctic fire

Over the seas of silence

Hauling on frozen ropes

For all my days remaining

But would north be true?

All colours bleed to red

Asleep on the ocean’s bed

Drifting on empty seas

For all my days remaining

But would north be true?

Why should I?

Why should I cry for you?

Dark angels follow me

Over a godless sea

Mountains of endless falling,

For all my days remaining,

What would be true?

Sometimes I see your face,

The stars seem to lose their place

Why must I think of you?

Why must I?

Why should I?

Why should I cry for you?

Why would you want me to?

And what would it mean to say,

That, “I loved you in my fashion”?

What would be true?

Why should I?

Why should I cry for you?

Babette Borderlester

                    Babette Borderlester is Romney’s six year old precocious little sister.  Her best friend is Fartia Temme, the little sister of Steyme Temme, Romney’s notorious bully from school.  Babette is the polar opposite of Romney, where he is shy and timid, Babette is out going and personable, but she is not without her vices.  She is very well away of how cute she is and often uses that to her advantage to get what she wants.  Even though at times she may seem devious and self-centered, Babette loves Romney and would do anything for her big brother, especially join him on a pirate adventure!

Romney Borderlester

Romney Borderlester is the hero of the story The Sheepish Pirate.  Even though Romney is the hero, his life is miserable. On a daily bases he is bullied by his classmates for being super smart and different.  The consistent persecution has left Romney friendless and too shy to speak.  However, even though he is sheepish, he is a dreamer and he dreams big.  The young 11 year old lamb has ambition of going to sea and being a captain of his own ship, but he is always brought back to reality by his own logic of thinking within the box.  Though one day, with his one act of defiance he , and his little sister Babette, go against his logical thinking and get swept up on an adventure that will change their lives forever…and heard Romney in growing up into everything that he has ever dreamed to be. 

Checkers the Chinchilla

                 In chapter one we meet Ryeland, Babette, the Borderlesters and a few other characters from Brixham, England.  We also briefly meet two crew members from the ominous pirate ship in the harbor, Yatzee and Checkers.  I wanted to share an artist’s rendering of the character of Checkers and little bit more about the chinchilla’s background.  Checkers is from the South American country of Chile and received his nick name while hustling the game of checkers during his time in the Caribbean before he joined a pirate ship. Very few know his real name, but it is revealed  in the second book on a journey back to his home. He is the weapons expert on the ship and is keen on blowing things up when necessary…or when not necessary.

Synopsis

           When a midnight excursion to the seashore goes terribly awry, eleven-year-old British sheep Romney Borderlester and his precocious little sister, Babette, accidentally become stowaways on a pirate ship.

Romney and Babette join the crew of swashbuckling animals on a quest with Captain Argyle, a Scottish ram, in search of a legendary stone to help him find his twin brother who mysteriously disappeared five years ago.  Romney breaks free from his shy shell, adapting to his nautical surroundings, and even finding friendship among the pirates.

Everything seems to be going swimmingly until Babette gets stolen away by Horace the Horrible Hare, captain of the Carnivorous Coral and the scurviest pirate in all the seven seas!

 Romney, Argyle and the crew race to rescue Babette, as she holds a key to finding the ancient artifact. It is no longer just drawing the attention of rogue pirates, but also that of the Royal Navy and the Dutch and Greek Fleets.  Faced with the prospect of losing his sister forever, Romney must help Argyle on his quest and join in the sea battle between three nations!

Complete at 87,000 words, The Sheepish Pirate is a children's chapter fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of Treasure Island, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, and Wind in the Willows. This is a stand-alone novel with series potential.