~Author's note~
This story is the retelling of 'Pearls of Lutra' and the first book of my trilogy 'Tears of the Ocean'. It's basically an alternate universe, so as a warning to avid Redwall fans, it's best to view this as it's own story (or an alternate timeline/universe/whatever) I have totally changed characters, cultures, lore, and even added some species. Don't say I didn't warn you :P
Also, I've rated this Teen for violence, spiritual/magical themes, and occasional Redwall cursing (Hellgates). Mostly for violence however, and just a rather dark atmosphere in general. I'm new to this site, so as I'm not sure how this works entirely, I added this just to be completely clear.
I hope you enjoy it, even though it has plenty of oddities. If you're up for a Redwall fanfiction unlike any other /I've/ ever read, well, I'm glad to have you here. Feel free to comment and tell me what you think. :)
~Sayna S. Luke
Far 'way in west sea,
Where corsairs bend the knee,
The eyes of enchantment do shine.
Wicked at best,
Sent a terrible quest,
The six tears of Lutra's are mine.
Prologue
The creaks of the ship and its rigging mingled with the groans of wounded, and the smell of salt air blended with the smell of shed blood. Crewbeast and lizard lay dead or dying in what told of a great struggle .. munity.
Only a few were still standing, and those who were, were still fighting.
One of these was a tall, black haired ferret maiden with a strangely cream mask. She had just felled an opponent, and was bleeding from several wounds due to it. She yanked her axe free of the lizard she'd just killed, taking tighter hold of her cutlass as she looked around.
A massive lizard, bigger than the others, had an injured rat backed up against the mast, and the creature was weakly trying to defend himself.
The ferret snarled, running agilely toward the scenario. "Lask! Leave me beasts be! Face me if any!"
The rat tried to stab the lizard, but his spear was deflected by the scales. "Capt'n .."
The lizard broke his opponent's neck with one fell blow, turning his bloody muzzle to the ferret. "Thizzz izzz the fate of thozzz who defy the emperor, Captain Romzzca."
Romsca had skidded to a halt a few feet away once saving her crewbeast was out of the question, and now she panted, "Your beasts is as dead as mine .. looks like it's just you an' me."
Lask grinned. "It will be pleazzing to kill you .. traitor!"
Romsca jumped back as the massive lizard advanced on her. "We'll see who kills who!"
She leaped into action the next minute, running to the side and causing the lizard to spin around, mouth opening in a hiss that revealed his many, sharpened teeth. Romsca jumped over his swinging, club like tail, throwing her axe down with all her strength.
Lask roared in pain as his tail was severed from his body, and he lunged viscously, knocking Romsca over backwards and tearing his claws into her leg. The ferret choked back a scream, kicking the lizard hard in the muzzle with her good leg, and rolling desperately away, gripping her cutlass tightly.
Romsca could vaguely hear noise coming from her cabin, and she knew her 'prisoners' would be trying to get out and help her. But it was not their time to die .. even if it was her's.
The ferret staggered to her feet again .. she must not fall .. it would be the end of her if Lask got her on the ground. However the lizard was in a terrible fit of rage from the pain of his missing tail, and he was too fast to avoid.
His claws shot out, catching Romsca in the side and sending her flying against the mast like she weighed nothing. The ferret's world swam, and she tried to force herself up again, but Lask was a upon her, his claws tearing into her back.
Romsca heard herself scream in agony .. and she knew good and well, her neck would be next.
The was a sudden crash from nearby .. like a door breaking, and Lask's brutal claws lifted from her. Romsca coughed, lifting her head to see her savior, the very creature she had captured and kept prisoner, bring their shining sword against the lizard.
However for some reason, the strange golden mouse was not as fast as before .. Lask flung her against the railing of the ship, and she collapsed in a broken heap .. motionless.
Her sword was laying just a few feet away .. despite the terrible pain she was in, Romsca forced herself to creep forward and grip the hilt. Lask was coming at her now, regardless of caution or tactics .. he was mad with agony and desired nothing but blood.
Romsca forced herself to lift the sword .. though it seemed so heavy in her faltering grasp, that she wondered if she could. The lizard ran full force onto the blade, impaling himself and flinging his wounded adversary backwards.
The ferret cried out as she slammed into the mast, and the terrible pain brought a wave of darkness crashing upon her. She vaguely felt herself slumping to the ground as the world fell into darkness .. yet the pain was numbing now.
Ignasa .. if you could hear a pirate's plea .. forgive me ..
Her last thought was a depressing one.
I will never be able to right the wrongs .. my life has been sorely wasted .. oh Ignasa ..
Somebeast was speaking, though their voice was far away and muffled. "My daughter ..."
Romsca may not have smiled, but her heart did, faintly. When had she last heard such words?
"Me girl .. me little girl."
It brought back the past .. so long ago. Once .. when everything was alright. It might seem like forever, but that time had once been.
And maybe .. not so long ago.
Chapter 1 Jewel of the Ocean
Far away in the west sea, is an island. A tropical jewel of rare beauty that graced what some called the edge of the horizon, or the beginning of the end, for there was no land to be reached by ship west of it.
And on this island, a great city was built, so long ago that the paws that made it faded into far recesses of time.
Pirates and wave-robbers made their home here .. Sampetra.
One such beast was Conva, a feared sea captain. However he had moored at Sampetra to give his crew a well earned rest, and repair his galley. But these were not the only reasons he was glad to be home, the main reason met him the moment he entered the courtyard of his small manor.
"Dad!"
The older ferret was hit by a leaping creature, who bowled him over. "Dad, yer back!"
Conva lifted his one and only child, grinning. "Arr, me little girl!"
She laughed. "I ain't so little no more!"
"Aye Romsca me dear, yer growing up." Conva admitted.
The young ferret rubbed a paw across her nose. "Dad, when are you gonna take me on a voyage? I want ta come too .. yer gone so long."
Conva shook his head. "Yer not thirteen seasons me girl. Next time, maybe."
"Why? Why do I have ta stay? I'm good with me axe, I'll show you!" Romsca was determined.
"I said, not yet. I mean it me girl, that's the way it is."
"I kin beat Xzaris an' Rasconza .. or .. at least be as good. Please dad!"
Conva sighed. "That isn't the point. You've been keeping up with yer training?"
"Course I have!" Romsca exclaimed. "Every day .. I want to be just like you an' sail on the Waveworm!"
Conva took his daughter's paw. "I promised yer mom, not till yer thirteen. Now I mean it."
Romsca looked sulky. "'t's not fair."
"Now look. Yer uncle Barranca is with me, and we've got to make a report to the empress, see? You stay here while we do it, and we'll come back soon enough." Conva explained.
Romsca grumbled. "I want ta come too."
Conva shook his head. "Empress Meili is not fond of such things, and you know it. Go play, we'll be back soon enough."
Romsca looked defiant, before she looked down. "Yes dad."
The weathered ferret smiled again. "That's me girl."
"Go play, he says. I've never been in the palace, but I want ta go. Sure. It's not fair! Just like I'm not old enough ta go sailing, either."
Romsca threw a stone in attempt to skip it across the river, but it just plopped in, making a half-hearted splash.
There was a whish of air beside her, and a stone zipped across the placid water, skipping several times. Romsca rolled her eyes, huffing. "So I can't skip stones. Big deal."
"Jealous."
A bluish gray ferret used a thick staff of bamboo to vault himself on a nearby, moss covered stone, grinning all the while. "So what's the deal?"
Romsca scowled. "Don't want ta tell you."
"Something wrong?" A fox about the same age, or a little older, sat near the two ferrets.
"I just ... I want ta be a great corsair, and dad won't let me prove myself. I'm only one season too young .. if I was just thirteen." Romsca grumbled. "By the time I'm old enough, he'll be off raiding, and I'll have to wait longer!"
The fox shrugged. "It's only a few seasons."
"Yer one ta talk." The gray ferret splashed his pole in the water. "Yer dad don't care, he'll take ya on raids if'n ya ask him."
"Yea, and I've been on two now. How about you, Xzaris?"
The ferret scowled. "Ya know how many the two of us get ta go on."
The fox paused a moment, before saying, with a straight face, "Aye, a lot of them."
Romsca tried to scowl, but she giggled instead. "Why is that funny? How can Rasconza always make everything funny?"
"It's called, sarcasm." Xzaris stated, levelly.
Rasconza smirked. "You're not bad at it yourself."
Xzaris used his staff to bolt to his paws almost completely from a sitting position. "Thank ya, I've been 'round ya long enough."
Romsca was laughing now, and she jumped to her paws. "You two never let me sulk."
"That's our job, y'know." Xzaris grinned, sticking his bamboo pole out as Rasconza got to his paws, tripping the fox.
Rasconza raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
He sat up. "I came to tell you something important, and you want to goof off?"
Romsca raised an eyebrow. "What's important? Sampetra never changes."
"Yea, I mean what really .. excitin' things happen 'round here?" Xzaris suddenly looked at Romsca. "Unless a course, the lizards attack."
The ferret glared at her friend. "Don't mention those things! They give me the creeps."
"Scaredy-cat. Like the dark gives ya the creeps."
"Shut up. Like yer not afraid of nothing."
"Oh yea? Name it."
"I'm not going to tell you if you won't listen." Rasconza said sagely.
Romsca snorted. "Whatever, Xzaris. Yea, tell us."
She plopped down in front of the fox, and Xzaris leaned coolly on his staff. Rasconza looked around, stating, "Things may not stay so peaceful on Sampetra. My dad sighted a ship on the horizon the other day."
Xzaris shrugged. "An' so?"
"No, listen. It wasn't one of Empress Meili's ships, it didn't have her emblem on the sail or the flag. So I'll bet you it's not sailed by one of her captains."
Romsca frowned. "But Empress Meili is queen of all corsairs! Nobeast dares sail on their own, an' all those who do are punished."
"Aye, I know it." Rasconza looked thoughtful. "And that's what worries me."
"Ah, Meili'll put a stop to 'em. One galley an' it's crew can't stand 'afore the queen a corsairs." Xzaris was unconcerned.
Rasconza thought a moment, before nodding. "Guess you're right."
"Yea." Romsca sounded almost disappointed. "Nothing's going ta happen, out of the ordinary."
The three were silent awhile, before Rasconza asked, "So, are you two going to the Feast of Spring at the old temple?"
Romsca nodded. "Dad never misses the holidays."
Xzaris shrugged. "I donno."
"You can come with us." Rasconza offered. "Three days time."
The gray ferret paused, before nodding. "Yea. Won't all of Sampetra be there? Except of course .. the lizards .."
Romsca glared at him. "Don't even go there."
"Raids have been favorable, don't you think, Barranca?"
Romsca sat eating her dinner, consisting mostly of fish, and listening with interest to her father and uncle's conversation.
Her uncle, a powerfully built stoat who looked like he possessed both weasel and ferret blood, shrugged. "I'm not sure of anything, my brother. Indeed, raids have been favorable, and Meili still spares her cousins from the brunt of the taxes .. but I would not count on it forever."
"Sadly, not." Conva agreed. "Just seeing the way she looked at us and our pay, I can tell she wants more."
"She can't, by law." Barranca took a drink of wine. "But I wouldn't put it past her to change the laws."
Conva set his chalice down. "Indeed .. she's always disliked us for our mixed blood .. how very proper she is."
"In some aspects." Barranca motioned to one of his brother's hired servants. "More wine, my good beast."
As the creature left, the stoat turned to Romsca. "So, how's my favorite niece, eh?"
"I'm yer only niece, uncle." Romsca tried not to grin as she gave her customary reply.
"Aye, so you are, and it makes me like you more. What've you been up to while your dad and I have been off working?" Barranca's eyes twinkled.
Romsca paused, before stating, "I've been training .. I want to go on a raid now, but dad won't let me! He says I ain't old enough."
Barranca paused to refill his glass, as the servant returned, before he nodded. "And Conva's right. Best you stay where it's safe a few more seasons, then we'll make you a regular buccaneer, won't we?"
Romsca sighed. "I guess .. then you'll teach me with dad, won't you?"
"Course I will, anything for my little niece. Mark my words, woodlanders will fear your name someday." Barranca grinned, his snow-white fangs glittering as they always did.
Romsca grinned back, before stating, "Rasconza told me something today, uncle."
Conva raised an eyebrow. "And what'd he say, the little scamp?"
"Well .. he said his dad had seen something .. a ship. On the far horizon, and it wasn't marked with Empress Meili's standard .. the flag was strange, he said."
Barranca nodded. "To be honest, Conva, didn't old Rubby say he sighted something, the night before we returned?"
Conva laughed. "Aye, but Rubby is about as good at sighting things as he is at cooking. He might have seen the Freebooter, for all I know. I patronize the rat, cause I need somebeast to cook, and while he's terrible at it, I don't need to hire yet another crew member. Rubby'll work for low pay, that's the only good thing about him."
Barranca joined in laughing with his brother. "Yes, I suppose you're right. When do you reckon we'll need to set sail again?"
"I was going to let the crew rest at least a week, and besides, I like to take Romsca to the Feast of Spring .. I couldn't last year, but I promised that I would this time. Besides, we'll have to chart a new course, and we've pillaged the north coast pretty well these last seasons. Would you risk Southsward's navy?" Conva took a drink.
Barranca tapped his claws on the table. "Nah, not just the two of us and our crews. How about the eastern coast of Mossflower?"
Conva slammed his chalice down. "That cursed shore? I wouldn't sail within three miles of it!"
"Just because that's where father met his end?"
"It's bad luck, and I'm not doing it, Barranca. All Hellgates couldn't make me. Let's raid Terramort." Conva was determined.
Barranca shrugged. "I suppose it'll do. But one of these days, Conva .."
Romsca could contain herself no more. "What's so bad about Mossflower? Dad's never told me .. just that all pirates would do well ta avoid it at all cost."
Barranca and Conva exchanged a look as the servant returned, setting a dessert of sugared buns before them. The two pirates waited until the beast had gone, before Barranca stated simply, "Our father .. your grandfather .. was one of Sampetra's best sea captains .. half brother of the emperor at that time. He sailed to Mossflower on a raid .. and simply disappeared."
"His ship .. the entire crew .. ?" Romsca felt a little chill of wonder, for such things weren't heard of outside of legend.
"Aye, everything. Not so much left as a life boat or a burnt piece of wood." Conva's voice was dead serious.
Romsca looked from her father to her uncle, trying to discern if they were joking at all. "And nobeast ever found out why?"
"No." Barranca shook his head. "And I have the feeling nobeast ever will."
"But how .."
"It defies logic. He was sailing in a fleet with some other captains, and one night, he went on a solo raid without the other's consent." Conva looked a little unsettled.
Romsca frowned. "And he .. never came back?"
"Never." Conva stated. "Those waters are cursed, and you won't see me take me ship within a day of them."
"Lutran, give it back!"
On the western edge of Mossflower, far from Sampetra, two young beasts were playing on the shore. One, a young, brown furred otter maid with sweeping blonde hair, chased the other, a slightly older male whose fur was the color of sodden charcoal.
"I found it, so give it back!"
The male otter, Lutran, ran faster. "Get me first!"
The little maid scowled, finally slowing to a panting stop. "Fine .. you .. can have it .."
Lutran trotted back at this point. "I was just joking."
"That's .. nice .. you know .. I'm not .. good at running .."
"Aw, sis, don't be mad. I forgot about that." Lutran pried her paw open, dropping in the pretty shell he was holding. "I'll make it up to you sis .. I'll make it into a necklace for you."
The otter coughed, before standing up straight again. "It's ok .."
"What are you two up to now?"
Lutran jumped. "Oh! Coral .. um .. I .."
The newcomer was older than the first two, and she shook her head. "What have you been doing to Grath, then? Getting her in trouble? Just wait til I tell mother!"
"No, he's fine .." Grath coughed a little, and Coral glared at Lutran.
"Back to the holt. It's about dark anyway, and you know what father says about being out after dark, because of the pirates."
Lutran scuffed a paw, but he did as he was told.
Coral took her sister's paw, leading her in the direction their brother had gone. "It's dinner time anyway. You really shouldn't do everything that scamp does, it'll get you hurt someday."
"But I like playing with him, it's fun being outside and by the sea .." Grath protested. "And I like it when he teaches me about archery and harpoons, and .."
Coral shook her head. "I love you Grath, and I want to make sure nothing happens to you. That's my job as your big sister .. and you know why you can't do everything Lutran does."
The little otter hung her head. "Yes ... but I want to do something .. important."
"And you can. There are plenty of things you can do, I'll teach you healing, like mother is teaching me." Coral smiled, trying to encourage her sibling.
Grath nodded. "I guess .. but I want to do things like Aqua or Marine .. or like father."
Coral sighed. "Maybe that just isn't your destiny."
Clack!
Romsca muttered, rolling over in bed but never opening her eyes.
Clack, clack!
The young ferret groaned, pulling her pillow over her head as her father's cheery voice rang from downstairs. "Girl, wake up before those young buccaneers ruin me shutters, see?"
Romsca didn't move until the clacking rang out again, and then she kicked her sheet off, yelling, "Quit it, Xzaris!"
Rasconza's voice rang out, faintly from below. "Come on, wake up! It's the feast of spring, remember?"
Romsca did remember, now. "Oh yea! Wait a minute!"
"We've been waitin' five minutes!" Xzaris yelled from outside, and Romsca grinned.
"Then a few more won't hurt!"
It was indeed, several more minutes before Romsca joined the two outside.
"You take ferever. Like a girl." Xzaris snickered.
Romsca glared at him. "You wanna fight me fer that?"
"Alright, is that any way for young pirates to behave?" Barranca walked past. "You don't loose your temper at every little thing. Besides, I'm heading off to the temple. You three want to join me?"
It took a while to leave, and once they did, Conva and Barranca talked of raiding tactics and argued about where they should plunder next, while the three young beasts ran on ahead.
"Come on slow-pokes, race ya!" Xzaris used his bamboo staff to vault onto a wall, and ran along it, laughing.
"Oh that's how he wants to play it?"
Romsca launched herself after the ferret, regardless of the rocky cobblestones. She was catching up, when Rasconza passed her, pushing her out of the way and leaping for Xzaris. He grabbed his friend's legs as he tried to jump off the wall. Both fox and ferret landed in a laughing, ungainly heap, and Romsca jumped in next, plowing Rasconza over while panting, "That's for shoving me."
The two older beasts passed them with hardly a look, for such scuffles were usual between the three. Xzaris scrambled to his paws, grabbing his stick and shaking himself. "Come on, we'll be late."
Romsca let Rasconza up, following Xzaris. "You started it."
"Ahh, whatever." Xzaris didn't sound a bit sorry.
They'd reached the staircase leading to the temple, which was an amazing feat in and of itself. Nearly forty feet high and made of lichen-covered stone, with twin, fierce dragon statues on either side of its base, it was something worth looking at. There was quite a bit of traffic going up it, and Xzaris suddenly grinned. "You wanna run up that?"
"With all those creatures?" Rasconza asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You scared?" Xzaris asked.
Romsca rolled her eyes. "He just thinks it's a dumb idea."
Rasconza nodded, and Xzaris laughed. "I dare ya."
There was a moment of silence, before Romsca put her paws on her hips. "Well if you put it that way .."
"Great!" Xzaris crouched down a little, tensing to spring. "Ready set go!"
The ferret jumped forward, dodging several creatures as he dashed for the stairs. Rasconza shrugged. "You and me?"
Romsca nodded. "Yea, let's get him!"
When she reached the top, Romsca was panting, and her tail was aching from where a weasel had trod on it as she dashed passed him.
"You took yer time." Xzaris was leaning against the lichen-covered statue of a dragon at the top of the stairs, bamboo pole held nonchalantly in one paw.
Romsca had caught her breath. "How you do that, I'll never know."
"Ain't tellin'." Xzaris was proud of himself, but he broke off with an 'Oooff' as Rasconza dropped upon him from the dragon statue's back, plowing him to the ground.
"Got'cha."
Romsca paused at that moment, as the voice all creatures knew to be their empress could be heard speaking from a distance. "It is my great honor to proclaim the arrival of spring once again, in my long reign .."
The ferret started forward. "Come on, let's go!"
She could hear her friends behind her as she ran up the steps of the great temple, and into the initial, open-aired hall. She slowed as her boots made echoing clicks on the marble, and the statues of the many deities of the elements seemed to glare sternly upon her.
Xzaris and Rasconza caught up, the fox asking, "Hey, should we wait for your dad and uncle?"
"Yea cause .. they're like halfway up the steps." Xzaris informed her.
Romsca shook her head. "Nah, they'll catch up. Come on, I want to see the Unknown Lord, the pearl, and Empress Meili!"
"I don't get why we worship him, if nobeast even knows his name." Rasconza sounded skeptical.
Romsca knew the answer. "Because our founders, Scound and Aisha, built the statue and dedicated the pearl ta him. I was reading about it the other day."
"You an' a book." Xzaris joked.
Romsca looked unimpressed, before tossing her head. "Come on, or we'll miss the whole thing!"
She started on down the hallway, which was devoid of life, seeing as the crowd had gathered in the inner courtyard. The three friends hurried along, coming into the inner room to find it packed .. they were too short to see anything.
Xzaris had the solution. "Come on, up here."
He scrambled onto the base of a pillar, probably four feet off the ground, and sat on it. "Ya just gotta get higher."
"Yea, show-off." Rasconza climbed up next to him, and Romsca followed, looking eagerly out across the audience.
Sure enough, there was Empress Meili, dressed in her flowing silks, though her elegant saber hung at her side, proof she was empress for a good reason. Behind her was the beautiful marble statue of a noble looking cat of some sort. It stood on all fours, curving gracefully around, its tail sweeping off the pedestal it sat upon.
The weathered statue's right forepaw was held up, and sheltered by it was the shimmering, iridescent pale rose pearl, held in place by a cleverly carved niche.
"He's amazing, isn't he?"
"Who?" Xzaris asked, bewildered.
"The Unknown Lord." Romsca answered. "I mean, just that he's .. unknown. He's so mysterious .. someday, I want ta find out more about him."
Rasconza flicked an ear. "Don't forget all the other lords and ladies of the elements."
"Of course not." Romsca stated. "But I still want to know."
They fell silent, listening to Empress Meili speak. "And so it is that our outreach is forever growing. The future is bright for us, my good subjects, for we have no real enemies. The lizards are kept at bay, the beasts of others lands keep their distance equally. It is time for Sampetra to expand her influence!"
There was a cheer as the weasel held up her gilded scepter, continuing, "As your leader, I am making plans to make this so! Let us celebrate spring with the knowledge that soon, we will have other lands and more wealth to our name!"
There was more cheering, as Rasconza stated, "Dad's been talking about that .. she plans to raid Southsward!"
"No ... Southsward? But they have .."
Xzaris interrupted Romsca. "The most powerful navy 'round! She really thinks she can take 'em down?"
Romsca looked back to where Empress Meili stood with admiration, but she frowned the next second, for it seemed something moved in the shadows beside the statue of the Unknown Lord.
She discovered she was not mistaken as the cheering died down. For a lithe, weasel like beast stepped forward from his hiding place, his voice echoing about the temple almost mockingly. "Aye, long live the queen."
Empress Meili wheeled around, paw falling to the hilt of her saber as several of her trident rats stepped forward.
Rasconza looked bewildered. "Who's that?"
"I donno .. but how does he dare ta stand on the dias with 'er?" Xzaris sounded amazed.
The tall creature walked forward, draping, silk cape sweeping silently behind him. His voice was of average volume, but the silence of the hall was so complete, he could be heard. "It's been a long time. Too long."
His voice did not sound angry in the least, and Romsca wondered if perhaps he was a friend of the Empress's. However she did not show that she recognized the stranger, as she drew her sword. Three trident rats came running, taking their places at her side as she sneered. "I do not know you. Who do you think you are to interrupt me?"
The pine marten .. for so he was .. showed no sign of anger. "You may not remember me, but I remember you."
He snapped his fingers, and to Romsca's horror, two large, green-scaled lizards took their place at his side. He rested a paw on one's head, smiling without the slightest bit of fear. "We have a score to settle."
There had been an instant drawing of weapons and crowding backwards of the crowd at the sight of their hated enemies, however, the two beasts stood calmly .. almost placidly. While she couldn't see properly, Romsca could envision their cold, reptilian eyes were resting hungrily upon her, never mind the audience between them.
Meili's voice was cold. "You and those things are under arrest and will be judged accordingly. Sagitar?"
The tall female rat twirled her trident, stepping forward without hesitation as more of her guards joined her. The pine marten held up a paw. "You would be wise to stop, Sagitar. I am a servant of the Unknown Lord, who is displeased with your lack of reverence to him."
Meili snorted. "And I am the daughter of the Lady of the Sea. Sagitar, I tire of this one .. kill him."
Ublaz smiled, flicking an empty paw at the approaching rat. The next event was seared in Romsca's mind forever .. Sagitar flew backwards, toppling off the dias, her trident clattering to the floor.
Meili's eyes widened as the pine marten smiled graciously to her. "You worship many a deity .. yet you do not believe they have power? Perhaps I should test your faith."
His paw shot out, and Meili's saber was ripped forcibly from her grasp .. though the paw it flew instantly into was still six feet away. The weasel empress drew a long knife from beneath the folds of her skirt, staring at her adversary in fearful wonder.
The pine marten smiled, voice sickeningly soothing. "That is right, look into my eyes .. endless depths of wonder indeed. Do not move .. for you are my beast now."
Before Romsca's horrified gaze, Meili remained frozen .. as if she truly could not move. The pine marten, who had been walking deliberately forward, raised the empress's own sword, and with one remorseless blow, beheaded her with it.
The creature dropped the bloodied weapon upon the body, his smile never changing. "That is the fate of those who defy Lord Ublaz .. do any others wish to die?"
Sagitar, who'd staggered to her feet and reclaimed her trident, waved it at the murderer. "Guards, take him down!"
Six ratguards ran at him, but he never batted an eyelash, just snapped his fingers. The two lizards, so placid before, ran forward in a visage of true terror, each mauling several of the guards without sustaining a wound from the unfortunate's attempts of self-defense.
Ublaz's paw shot out again; this time strange, glowing greenish fire came from it and threw the last two guards violently backwards, into the crowd.
Romsca and her two friends had remained frozen with shock, and still were, as Ublaz snapped his fingers once more. The two lizards backed off instantly, taking their place beside their obvious master as if nothing had happened; though the bodies on the ground and the blood staining the lizards' muzzles and throats told a different story.
"Now, good creatures, are there any more volunteers, or have I made enough examples?"
Not even Sagitar moved.
Ublaz smiled, for it seemed he never stopped. He snapped his fingers again, and twelve more lizards joined him, as well as a motely assortment of vermin. "Good. As a servant and messenger of the Unknown Lord, here is his message. You have not worshipped me as you should, rulers of Sampetra? You will all die by my servant's paw, and I shall spare your subjects and way of life. So now, if you value your very existence, good creatures, give up these traitors that you may be spared."
There was a pause, before the creatures begin turning upon Meili's relations, young and old, and dragging them forward despite their protests and struggles.
Romsca was frozen with the terrible realization .. she was one of those beasts. A paw grabbed her arm, and she wrenched away, dropping from her seat and spinning around, almost in mid-air. She relaxed as she saw it was only her father. "Dad .."
He seized hold of her, and Barranca was close behind. The stoat-like beast nodded. "We saw .. let's get out of here!"
But getting away was not an option, as a nearby creature called out, "Hoi, they're related to the Empress .. get 'em!"
Conva, Barranca, and Romsca could do little, their own kind turned against them. Romsca managed to catch one last glimpse of her friends, looking terrified, before they were hidden by the crowd.
They were shoved to the dias steps, in time to see Ublaz gently pick the pearl up from its resting place, and he turned as they were thrown forward.
The pine marten snapped his fingers, and one of the lizards came forward. Romsca's nerve left her, and she backed away. Conva drew his cutlass, but Barranca was faster. There was the sound of metal on metal as the stoat drew his saber, leaping forward and stabbing the lizard in the chest as it reared up slightly to attack.
Barranca was thrown backwards from the force of the beast, but it let out a strange, hissing cry, blood flowing from a fairly deep wound. The creature backed away, several others approaching, but Ublaz held up a paw, snapping his fingers again.
The lizards halted, and he strode forward, bothering to scrutinize the beasts before him for the first time. "These are not weasels, they're ferrets and stoats. And this one is a daring beast. What are your occupations?"
Conva kept a wary eye on the lizards. "If you please sir, we are raiders."
"You own your own ships?"
Barranca got to his feet. "Yes."
He neglected to give Ublaz a title, but the pine marten showed no anger. "Are they truly Meili's relations?"
"They are, sir." Sagitar replied. "Her cousins."
Ublaz cocked his head. "It is a shame I shall have to kill you. But what must be, must be."
He admired the pearl he was holding, as he raised his fingers, placing them together.
"Wait!" Conva stood in front of Romsca. "I know where the others are!"
Ublaz slowly lowered his paw, turning back around, smile so genuine it made Romsca sick. "Excuse me?"
"The pearls." Conva took a deep breath. "I know where the other six pearls are."
The pine marten looked interested. "You know the legend of the six pearls?"
"I do. My father's greatest wish was to find them. He gave me a map, with the secret of them .. let me and my family live, and I will get them for you."
Ublaz raised one eyebrow. "Do you know of their power?"
Conva looked confused, and Ublaz's smile grew nearly pitying. "I see you do not. Well never mind, you cannot access it, when I hold the key to it."
The pine marten held up his pearl, nodding at length. "Your offer tempts me greatly. I do believe I will make that deal with you .. your lives for the pearls."
His smile some how contorted into a demonic glare, without once changing. "But should you fail .. your lives are mine. My Monitors are always hungry."