Hey guys. My name's the SilverClaymore, and just wanted to start you off on "Season of Conquest." For anybody who has read "the Rogue Crew," this book takes place a bit more than a decade after that. All the characters except for those killed in "the Rogue Crew" are still in this.

I do not own these settings, characters, or places. Brian Jacques, RIP, does. I only own a few new characters and places.

So here it is. Enjoy.

It had been 15 seasons since the the terror of both land and sea, Razzid Wearat, had pulled anchor off his center of evil, Irgash Isle. Leaving about 300 on the island, the Wearat set out to seek revenge against Skor Axehound and The Rogue Crew, but was eventually slain at the gates of Redwall. Two seasons after the Wearat left, a large, sly fox called Theppler Burnback had established himself as leader of the aimless vermin living on Irgash, knowing Razzid would never return. Theppler was a past captain of a ship called Burner Queen and was accepted due to his smarts and cunning. Theppler had never been a friend to Razzid, only joining ranks in hope that Wearat would die for yours truly to take over. The only reason he was not selected to be on the crew of the Greenshroud was that he refused, mostly due to this hate of Razzid. The fox was large and muscular, a whole head over a regular fox. His second name, Burnback, was due to a flame-shaped patch of black fur on his back, earning him the admiration of most vermin. The fox captains choice of weapon were two double bladed axes, huge, beautiful things with handles of gold and a ruby encased in the middle of each. Normal beasts couldn't lift one, much less both axes, but to Theppler it was but a simple task, and he always carried the axes in his hands.

Despite all of his cunning and smarts, Theppler was on the side of a losing battle at the moment. Rumors had come from the coast that the Wearat had died, and the corsairs left at his island were dull and stupid. This, along with the fact that the fortress that filled up most of Irgash was rumored to have treasures and gold flowing over its walls, led to fleets of ships attacking at the present was crewed by a huge rat named Gulspin Wildar. Gulspin was no stranger to plunder and conquest. He had been the second most feared captain for many seasons, second only to the Wearat. He had plundered island after island, gaining treasure, troops, and oar-slaves. His own ship, the Kingsprow, headed five other ships, each with eight score vermin, giving him a high reputation for the cruelest, meanest pirate to set sail. The Kingsprow strengthened this reputation even further. Triple-masted, double decked, complete with a rotting skeleton as the figurehead. Theppler had known the ship from far away, and he had ordered all vermin inside the island fortress, Dressen.

Now Theppler sat in his cabin, nursing a wound to his ear. His cabin door creaked open and his healer and seer, sister to the late Shekra, Ashek, walked in. She was still very young and inexperienced, and not used to Theppler's sudden mood changes, which came over him often. "How's your ear, Lord?" she inquired. Theppler was not in a good mood. "It's fine, except for the fact that there is a huge hole in it," he roared. "I should send you to Hellgates! You're worthless!" He grabbed his two huge axes from his side. "No, no, no," Ashek wailed. "I'm sorry, Lord. I meant no harm." Theppler's mood suddenly changed. "No, my vixen, I should trust you. Now, come, heal my ear before I decide otherwise." Still afraid, but thankful for his mood swing, she slowly shuffled over, mixing herbs and water. Pouring the mixture on a cloth, she then put another cloth on top, and put it over Theppler's ear "Does it feel better now, Lord?" But Theppler wasn't paying attention to her. Rushing past the vixen, he exited the cabin, yelling to his second in command, "Grakul! Call all captains together. I've got an idea!"

All the captains met in a citadel near the middle of Fort Dressen. "All right," Theppler said."I need volenteers. How about you Grakul?" A lean weasel spat on the ground, snarling at him, "Wot do yer want me to do? Wotever it tis, it'll cost yer. Grakul don't werk fer free." Ignoring the impudent weasel capain, Theppler smiled at the four others. "Well if not, 'ow bout one of you? Smashblade? Deadhorra?" the two captains, brother and sister, replied, "Er, wot do yer want us to do?" "Oh, just burn a few of Gulspins ships. You know wot? Grakul, You can do it. I know you are an okay archer. Wot do yer want?" Grakul pointed to a gem Theppler wore around his neck. "That." "Deal. You'll get it after you do the task." "Fine." "Well? Wot are yer waitin' for? Go!" Grakul ran off. Dismissing his captains, Theppler smiled. Hopefully, Grakul would succeed. And hopefully, the Kingsprow would be spared. He rather liked that ship….

Cap'n Gulspin Trunant Fisaw Wildar was in a good mood. "Arr matyhs," he bellowed to his fellow crewbeasts aboard his huge ship, the Kingsprow. "'Ere's tow ah sucessful plund'r! Sown naow weil 'ave tis ole I'land and then weil beah li'ing the 'ood life!" "Hoho Cap'n," a drunken searat called Scarmy laughed, hitting his captain good naturedly in the back. "An' yer the un t' get us 'ere." Swiftly drawing his cutlass, Gulspin whipped around and held his blade at Scarmy's throat. "Tis muteny fer strikin' a Cap'n! An' da price of muteny is death!" Without pausing to say more, Gulspin sunk the cutlass into Scarmy's chest. Immediately, all feasting stopped and heads turned to the Cap'n. Bellowing good naturedly, Gulspin roared, "Weill? Wot be yon doin'?" he addressed the crowd. "Own wit da feast!" The party started as quickly as it had stopped. Striding over to his bosun, a tubby ferret called Bolblub, Gulspin passed him the dead rat. "Lissen Bolblub," the corsair captain inquired, "Could you be's 'angin' ole Scarmy o'er yon boat? 'Es not feelin' da best, an' I ain't wantin' no mess on me ole decks. Oh and keep 'im dear awhile. Could be a lon-terme dizese." Chucking wickedly, Bolblub tugged his ear in salute. "Poor Scarmy, he ain't look dat good addal. Though I can't tink o' a dizese dat sticks a big 'ole in ya's." With a twinkle in his eye, Gulspin walked away chuckling, as he took a swig of grog. "No indeed, maytah. No indeed."

Grakul and two smaller weasels stealthily trudged down the beach, keeping behind rocks and trees, careful not to be seen. All three weasels possessed bows and arrows, the arrows tipped with coal. Finally reaching the tide, Grakul signaled with his hand to one weasel. Grabbing two pieces of flints, the weasel Grakul signaled to sparked them together then blew the sparks onto a nearby campground extinguished days ago. Flames rorared to life, and all three archers dipped their arrows into the blaze and, taking careful aim, fired.

Gulspin took another swig of seaweed grog. "Haharr maytah," he roared, biting into a drumstick of seabird. "Cap'n," a corsair interrupted him before he could talk. "What is it now? This better be good see!" "Cap'n, The Corsair Wing and The Ratgut are on fire!" the corsair said, pointing to two ablaze ships. Slaying him with a thrust of his cutlass, Gulspin strode over to the burning ship, remarking "Hey now maytay! I told you fer it t' be good news."

So what did you think? Be sure to review to tell me. I could use any tips, so please, tell me. I'm still new at this, so I've probably messed a million things up already.

Peace!

SilverClaymore