The Commodore’s telescope focused on the small group of soldiers riding out to meet them. He’d heard that one of China’s most famous war heroes was in command of this regiment, but… He squinted into the spyglass as though that would improve his vision. I can’t make anything out at this distance, anyhow.
Just then, a slight bump signified the Dauntless’s arrival against the dock. James watched as the crew scurried about, completing the various tasks that needed to be done in order to go ashore. Empty water barrels were rolled across the deck to be refilled on land, hammocks and sea chests were brought above decks for their owners’ usage.
Norrington shook himself out of his dazed thoughts, moving to a place alongside the gangplank so as to be the first off the ship to greet the Chinese Captain. The ramp was lowered and the Commodore stepped out, his boot heels making satisfying clicks against the hard wood as he moved towards the group of mounted… men?
As he drew nearer, it became apparent that the rider at the head of the group was indeed a woman, for all that she wore men’s trousers… And what’s more, the men seemed to defer to her! This must be Captain Hua then? Doing his best to mask the confusion he felt, Norrington bowed stiffly to the woman, “Captain Hua? I am Commodore Norrington of His Majesty’s Royal Navy, here to extend a helping hand to our Chinese allies against our common enemy.”
“Then on behalf of the Son of Heaven, I’m grateful to accept that hand. Welcome to the Middle Kingdom.” Mulan was highly gratified to realize how easily the words tumbled from her mouth, though they were born more of politeness than a knowledge of the protocol for greeting a foreign officer.
She didn’t: have such knowledge, that is. Recent messages from the capital had assured her that a court official was en route to advise her on such things–how this greeting was meant to go, for example. When to stand, what to say, and other diplomatic gestures (and Mulan knew so little of diplomacy, she didn’t even know what she didn’t know!). He hadn’t arrived yet. But Commodore Norrington had.
The young woman glanced past him, towards the ship at the Commodore’s back. She might not know much about them–or anything to do with the sea, really–but felt suitably impressed by its stature and heft, the webbing of ropes and sails that looked like it’d take weeks just to learn about. There was a ripple of amusement, faintly, to one side and Captain Hua realized she’d risen in her stirrups, the better to take in the unusual sight. Like a child (or, at least, like the country girl that she was).
Flushing, Mulan impulsively dismounted. “Your men must be tired after such a long journey,” she suggested, approaching her guest. If she was annoyed that he was considerably taller than her, well, everyone was taller than her. “There’s food prepared, if you’ll send them to the mess tent. It’s not large enough to accommodate down to the last man, but it’s a warm day and the training field isn’t in use.”