Chapter 1
Varo Huska balanced on the prow of his mighty ship, the Gutted Eagle. The fox was oblivious to the blinding rain. All he could see was his quarry, a merchant ship by the name of Diamond Queen. Varo smiled cruelly. At last he was catching up.
The Queen had managed to outsail Valo's Eagle for the past two days, riding on the high winds. However, the merchants daren't spread their sails in this horrendous storm. But Varo was no chicken. All canvas was strapped up, and the oarslaves were being forced to row at double-speed. Varo did not care if the slaves died; when they caught up with the Queen, there would be plenty fresh replacements.
A rat by the name of Limptail cowered in the swaying crow's nest. How the captain expected him to see anything through this storm he didn't know, but he did know that to disobey was to die. He clung to the railing for his life and shut his eyes tight as thunder split the sky in two. He did not hear the captain clamber up into the nest with him.
"Having a nice nap?" Varo asked him coldly.
Limptail's blood froze. He turned to the fox and stuttered, "N-no, captain, sir, I mean, yes, or…" he trailed off. Varo looked at him in disgust, but continued,
"Get down from here and arm yourself. We're going to board the Queen."
Limptail saluted and climbed down as fast as he could.
Aboard the Diamond Queen, things were really looking down. The grim faced crew armed themselves with what few weapons they had, and watched as the Gutted Eagle drew nearer. However, their captain, a mouse by the name of Roran, had a few tricks up his sleeves.
"Don't worry, mates!" he called out encouragingly from his spot at the tiller. "I have a plan!"
The assembled mice looked up at him hopefully. Roran continued, "They will be coming on too fast to get their grappling hooks caught right away. So, we need to take advantage of that…" The crew began to smile as Roran outlined his plan.
Varo walked up and down the deck, yelling at his corsair crew. "I want every one of you to grapple on! Anyone that I see staying behind will taste my blade!" He drew his long scimitar for emphasis as he continued, "Once we've boarded, it will be an easy battle! These aren't fighters; they're merchants! If they resist, kill them! Otherwise, take them captive as oarslaves!" The rats, ferrets, and stoats of the Gutted Eagle grinned wickedly.
The Eagle was now merely a shipslength behind the Queen. Vermin crowded the pirate galley's prow, armed to the teeth and swinging grappling hooks. Varo smiled grimly. He was looking forward to killing their captain; he who had dared to outrace the Scourge of the Seas… Captain Varo Huska!