Chapter 15 To the Ends of the Earth
It had been five days since Waveworm had left Sampetra, and while the crew was edgy, especially Cheng, Romsca hadn't had any real trouble. Simply looking at Lask Frildur made her skin crawl, and her hackles raise .. he was truly terrible, and nearly always watching her.
She was sitting at the desk that had once been her father's, looking over the maps. The ferret tapped her claws on the depiction of Mossflower's coast. Romsca had pointedly avoided that shore, for she loathed the memories that went with it.
However now that she had been sent to find those cursed pearls, the ones that had claimed so many lives already.
"And now I'm gonna find 'em for that beast so he can claim more?" Romsca rubbed the side of her head, breathing out in a sigh.
If she didn't, it'd be her life. Romsca stirred her inkwell with the tip of her quill. "I don't wanna die, I don't want ta! Is that ... wrong?"
Nobeast answered, nobeast ever did. Romsca corked her ink, wiping her quill off and shoving her chair backward. She picked up her axe, holding it loosely in one paw as she pushed open the cabin door, striding out on deck.
Lask paused near the mast, fixing his eyes upon her again. Romsca curled her lip, and the lizard smiled, much to the ferret's discomfort.
About that second there was a crash from the galley, and Cheng came running out on deck, Rubby close behind. The rat snarled. "Ya put that back, thief! Or I'll tell the capt'n!"
The tawny weasel hadn't seen Romsca, who had already seen the bottle of wine in his paw, and ground her teeth together. Cheng wasn't concerned with Rubby's threat. "Ah, shut up ya fat fool, I ain't scared of a girl. Like she can do nothin' ta me .. I bet she's too taken with me good looks ta lift a paw against me!"
Rubby, who was facing Romsca, smirked. "Oh is that so?"
"Yea, no maid can resist me long." Cheng laughed. "Thanks fer the wine!"
Romsca's voice was a guttural sound. "I'd like ta take yer rotten head off, fool."
Cheng jumped, before smirking. "Oh capt'n. I was simply borrowin' a drink."
"Ye'll put it back now." Romsca pointed her axe at him. "An' ya will face a thief's punishment."
The weasel smirked. "Ye'll whip me? Come on honey, why'd ya wanna do somethin' like that?"
Romsca moved like lightning, belting a hard left across his jaw. "Because ya are a thief, an' I am yer capt'n, worm!"
Cheng stumbled back, dropping the wine as he clapped a paw to his face. Rubby retrieved his possession and Romsca advanced on the weasel, claws clenching around her axe shaft. "Rubby, tell Raf ta bring the chains fer this scum."
The tawny weasel glared angrily at her, yanking his spear off his back .. his voice was slightly muffled, and Romsca felt a bit of satisfaction. "Hoi, girl or not, nobeast does that ta me!"
Romsca swung her axe expertly, blasting Cheng's spear from his paws. She ducked his fist, heading for her jaw, and kicked him hard in the legs. The weasel stumbled, falling, and Romsca planted a knee between his shoulder blades, slamming his face against the deck. Her voice was a growl. "I just did."
One of the monitors, who'd been watching tensely, now hissed in Cheng's face. "You do not harm captain, captain izzz the one who will find Mazzter'zzz pearlzzz. You touch captain, and we kill you, weazzel might tazzte nizzze."
Rafglan came running, a snarl crossing his face when he saw who was responsible for the commotion. He clapped the chains on the weasel's paws, and Romsca half hoisted him to his paws. Her first mate wasted no time in shoving Cheng against the mast and securing him to it, despite his struggles.
The rat snarled, "Capt'n, lemme whip him fer ya!"
Romsca gave Rafglan a look. "An' what would that say about me? Make sure the crew's on deck, an' bring me my whip."
Rafglan paused, before a slow smirk grew on his features, and he hurried off.
Cheng looked a little nervous now that he was at the obvious mercy of his captain, but he still had a few cards to play. "Come on .. capt'n, honey, yer a real purty beast .."
Romsca's fangs glittered, and she snarled. "Is that supposed ta be flattery, thief? It ain't gonna save ya ten lashes, or three days inna brig, so shut yer mouth. An' I ain't yer honey, I'm yer capt'n, so call me such."
Rafglan ran up, thrusting the whip into her paw, and Romsca uncurled the long lash with a crack. The entire crew had gathered now, including the Monitors.
Cheng had a lot of confidence in his appearance, something he made very clear. "But I'm an' good lookin' beast capt'n .."
"Ya really drive me crazy." Romsca snapped.
The weasel smirked suddenly. "Wull a lotta girls say that ... fer a good reason ya know .."
Romsca hardly knew what she was doing, but her temper took control of her. "Enough!"
Cheng screamed as the lash ripped across the side of his face, and blood splattered to the deck. Romsca had over swung the whip, causing it to flick up and bite her arm, but she barely felt the sting or the warm wetness that followed. The ferret swung the lash again, tearing it across the weasel's back, though this time he gritted his teeth together with no more than a whimper.
Romsca brought the lash down once more, over and over, almost feeling pleasure at her rival's cries. However the rush of fury was dimming, and the seventh lash was harder to bring down.
Even if she hated a beast, Romsca didn't like to see them suffer. Because she knew how endless pain felt, at least of the soul.
I have to do this .. the crew won't respect me if I don't, they've already proven that.
Romsca set her face, lashing down three more times, before standing still a moment, letting her breathing even out. She turned to the quiet, rather stunned crew, and she flicked the bloody whip at them. "Right, if any other beast wants ta join him, speak up now."
Nobeast moved, though a couple were nudging each other, looking meaningfully at the bloody form of Chang, now almost hanging from his bonds. Romsca found she felt a boiling anger toward them, simply for their cruel enjoyment of the spectacle. "Why do ya mock him, scum? Yer as much the fool as he is, an' watch it, cause I ain't one bit tired!"
The two creatures fell silent, the foolish admiration in their eyes changed to new respect mingled with a little fear. Romsca forced the anger from her eyes, asking, "Does any a ya lot know healin'?"
One beast, a scrawny little rat, raised a paw. "I do, capt'n."
Romsca nodded. "Good, Rafglan will take that one ta the brig, if ya would, help him."
She wheeled around to face the crew. "I need strong crew beasts ta stand by me. I ain't here ta be none a ya's sweetheart, I'm here ta find the emperor's pearls, an so are ya. I don't care one bit about yer rotten looks, none a ya, all I care about is yer loyalty an' yer strength in battle, ya hear me? Yer either with me or against me, an' all those against me are me enemies. So where do ya stand?"
Rafglan grinned. "With ya ta the end capt'n!"
Rubby confirmed this, and one by one, so did the others. Romsca raised her axe, the blade flashing in the light. "Fer the Dragons!"
The reply came back as a sort of cheer. "Fer the Dragons!"
=Next=
Rasconza was studying the maps laid out on his desk, rubbing at the side of his head as he always did when thinking or depressed. The fox picked up the bottle of wine sitting nearby, taking a drink and setting it back down.
The cabin's only other occupant, a mouse maiden dusting a shelf of books and instruments used for finding the ship's position, looked up momentarily. She met Rasconza's gaze, before looking down, her messy, white-blonde hair falling back into her face.
There was a loud knocking on his cabin door, and Rasconza pulled the brim of his hat down a little. "Come in."
His first mate walked in, stopping in front of his desk. "Capt'n, with all respect. What is our course?"
Rasconza rolled his eyes. "I told you which direction to go, Slashback."
The rat crossed his arms. "Capt'n, ya know I'm faithful ta ya. But I need a course."
"Of course." Rasconza smirked. "I figure we will go to the north coast, and search the highlands. It's the best I can do, if Graylunk and Flairnose had any sense at all, they'd have gone inland in effort to escape Sampetra's reach."
He shook his head. "Romsca might be the one with the best chance to find these things, she was sent east, and that was where they were last seen."
Slashback shrugged. "Perhaps. But if they ran, they woulda run as far as they could .. in truth, you might have the best chance."
"Or Xzaris." Rasconza mused. "Beasts rarely like going to the wild highlands .. a city of wealth and longstanding like Southsward is far more appealing."
"True, but in a ship the siza his, with Sampetra's dragon on the sail, Capt'n Xzaris don't have a chance of nearin' Southsward. They'll scuttle him long before he sights land." Slashback pointed this out, and Rasconza gave him a look.
"That's my friend you're talking about Slashback, I'm well aware of the danger. I think you should go."
The rat sighed, bowing. He turned on his heel, running full into the mousemaid and knocking her down. The scrolls she was carrying scattered, and Slashback growled bad temperedly striking her across the face. "Little wench, watch where your going!"
He raised a paw to strike her yet again, but a strong, red furred paw gripped his wrist, and Rasconza effortlessly lifted him off the ground. "Enough, why don't you look where you're going? How about you pick up all my scrolls you made her drop? Temper Slashback, I warned you about the temper."
The rat dropped his gaze. "Aye aye Capt'n."
Rasconza set him down on the floor, as the mousemaid tried to struggle to her paws, but the chains about her feet tangled and she fell again. The dog fox sighed, lifting her to her paws as though she weighed nothing. "Next time, see you are more careful."
She bowed low. "Yes captain."
Slashback begrudgingly handed her the scrolls he had collected, just as there was a knocking on the door and it swung open without Rasconza having time to say a word. "Capt'n? I had a bit a trouble .."
Rasconza stared at the beast, his slave driver. The weasel was bleeding on multiple accounts, and one of his eyes was swollen shut. "Cateye, what was it this time?"
"It's that stupid rabbit capt'n .. She called me an awful name she did, an' as I was layin' about her, she grabbed me whip's lash an' set about me! I tried ta grab me whip an' she punched me in the eye .. ya gotta git ridda that rabbit capt'n, she's from Hellgates themselves!"
Rasconza pressed his lips together, not noticing how pale the mousemaid was as she set the documents on his shelf. The fox showed one fang. "How many times has she thrashed you, Cateye?"
The weasel scowled. "This is the sixth time capt'n, I'm about ready ta kill her if ya don't .."
Rasconza suddenly growled, shoving Cateye against the doorframe. "Oh no you won't, I'm the only beast on this ship that does that. In that case, you can be lookout, I'll get somebeast else to do your job."
Cateye nodded. "Aye aye capt'n, jist keep me away from that crazy rabbit wench before one'a us kills the other!"
Rasconza let him drop to the deck. "Very well, it shall be done. As for the crazy rabbit wench, as you so call her, Slashback, see she is flogged and not fed for two days. If she continues in this behavior, I'm afraid I'll have to kill her."
The mousemaid was staring at him in horror, and now at last, he noticed it. Her hazel eyes widened momentarily as she met his gaze, and quickly looked down, but her paws shook as she picked up her broom.
Rasconza said nothing, the mouse had been a good slave for several seasons, and that rabbit was one he had only recently taken. Yet they must have some sort of bond, and the fox resolved to be wary.
Likely as not it was not worth any worry, but a captain could never be too careful.
=Next=
"Oh yea? I am not backin' down lizard face, go boil yer head!"
"Little wench, I don't care if'n yer cook, ya go scrub the deck!"
"Capt'n didn't tell me ta do that, so ya go scrub the rotten deck! Who ya think is gonna cook breakist? An' besides, ya ain't the first mate or nothin', what are ya, cabin boy or somethin'?"
Xzaris had been up late, and it was early in the morning now, judging by the soft light filtering through his windows. The angry shouts rose to a crescendo outside, and there was the sound of steel being drawn.
The gray ferret clenched his teeth together. These last five days he'd tried his best to be patient, but the lack of sleep and constant bickering among his crew was telling on him. He grabbed his pike, jumping out of bed and heading for his cabin's door.
Xzaris shoved the door open, to see Val and a weasel swing swords at each other, and a clash split the morning air.
Val dodged to the side like a streak of lightning, scoring a shallow cut across the weasel's face. He showed his fangs in fury, snarling, "I'll send ya ta Hellgates dog!"
Val grinned, blocking his downward cut. "Oh I'm sorry yer so dumb, I ain't a dog, I'm a vixen."
"Worthless wench, I'll show ya ..."
Xzaris yanked Val back, meeting the weasel's blade and swiftly disarming him. "Enough a this, yer all fools! Ya too Val, what is this about?"
Val looked injured. "He had the nerve ta tell me ta scrub the stupid deck when I was workin' on breakist. Guess yer all eatin' burnt rice this mornin', how's that?"
Xzaris bit his tongue to keep from lashing out at somebeast. He took a breath, slinging his pike across his back and crossing his arms. "Val, see ta breakist. An' ya, who do ya think ya are ta give her orders? Aren't ya the mornin' lookout? Well how's about this ... ya scrub the deck."
The weasel glared at him. "Ya think yer special cause yer capt'n? Ya shouldn't even be capt'n .. alla Sampetra knows were ya come from .. polecat."
Xzaris felt his ears pin back of their own accord. "Yer challenin' me?"
The weasel paused, and Xzaris circled him, deliberately drawing his pike. "I know what I am, ya needn't tell me."
He swung the weapon in a swift arch, adding depth to the cut Val had bestowed upon the troublemaker. "I am yer capt'n, an' if ya are suggestin' mutiny I'll save meself the food an' water an' jist .."
He didn't get to finish, as there was a flash of green scales, and a Monitor plowed the weasel to the ground, bending close to his face. The lizard dug it's wickedly long claws into the creature's shoulders, snarling, "We will feazzzt on you. Mutiny will not get Mazzzter'zzz pearlzzz."
The weasel had time for a despairing shriek, and Xzaris didn't have time to lift a paw. The Monitor sank it's fangs into the beast's throat, breaking his neck with one swift move.
There was another flash of green, and the first Monitor was knocked backwards by the lizard Xzaris knew was called Zurgat, the leader. She roared wordlessly in his face, and he seemed to get her message, for he flattened his neck frills and backed quickly away.
Zurgat growled, lashing her tail. "We need beazzztzzz to zzail the zzzhip, leave them be!"
The first Monitor showed his fangs, letting forth an odd succession of shrieks. Zurgat flicked her tongue out, finally hissing. "I zzzee. Then you did right, we will feazzzt upon thizzz one."
Without farther ado, she sank her fangs into the deadbeast for a moment, then lifted her head, blood dripping from her muzzle. Xzaris took one step backward, stammering defensively, "I .. was gonna kill him!"
Zurgat twitched her frills. "He izzz dead."
Xzaris felt his paw clench around his pike shaft, before turning to the stunned crew. "Right, as she says. We're here ta git .. the emperor's pearls, so nobeast act otherwise. Unless ya .. wanna die."
He gave the Monitors a pointed glance, and quickly looked away, as they were devouring the dead weasel.
Val hopped out of the galley, asking, "Who wants breakist?"
She stopped still at the grisly scenario, and Xzaris made a face. "I think some a us .. already ate."
Val curled her lip. "Urrk .. uh, yea .. well I'm gonna .. make some .. sushi or somethin'. Yea. Mmmpph .. ugg!"
She vanished, and Xzaris strode pointedly toward the forecastle and the steering wheel. "Nobeast play the fool like that again. If the Monitors don't kill 'im, I will! I am capt'n, an' I ain't standin' fer mutiny."
=Next=
Ublaz smiled, stirring his paw over his crystal ball's surface. "I'm sure you won't, Captain Xzaris. The question is can you keep your crew's respect?"
The pine marten stood, walking to his study's window and opening the latticed shutters. From here, all of Sampetra sprawled out before him, ending at the bay that sparkled a gorgeous indigo. Ships, fishing boats, and skiffs were going about their daily business, and all manner of beasts milled through the streets.
The wealthy, the poor, merchants, carpenters, sailors, and beggers .. from the clatter of horse hooves on cobblestones to the gleaming pagoda roofs of manors, Sampetra was strangely beautiful.
And he ruled it all.
"Sire?"
Ublaz turned fluidly around, to see Sagitar standing in his doorway. He raised an eyebrow. "Yes general?"
Sagitar looked grim. "It's happened again Sire."
"How many this time?" Ublaz's voice betrayed nothing.
"Two dead on the walls, three missing. Here is one of their arrows." The rat general handed him the missile, a sleek and aerodynamic design with sharply cut green fletching.
Ublaz ran his paw along the jet black shaft, nodding, "They're getting thirstier, aren't they?"
He examined the barbed, steel arrow head, remarking, "These creatures, whatever they are, are skilled craftsbeasts to make such arrows."
The pine marten set the arrow on his desk, asking, "General, how many beasts do we loose in a month on average?"
"Four or five." Sagitar stated, shrugging. "But obviously they are getting bolder."
"Obviously." Ublaz adjusted his flowing purple cape. "General, whatever these things are, we must kill them. Lay a trap."
Sagitar nodded. "I was hoping you'd say that, Sire. And might I add, your alliance with those gulls might come in handy at this point."
Ublaz curled his whiskers around one finger, nodding. "Hmmm ... quite true, Grall has yet to really hold up his end of the deal, he can prove himself. Though gulls are not nocturnal, and these beasts are. General, prepare a score of beasts."
Sagitar nodded. "Aye sire. Could you tell me the plan?"
Ublaz smiled. "Of course, the way I see it, these killers aren't at all that great in numbers. They attack fast and vanish fast, in small groups. They key is just getting one, and obtaining the location of their hideout .. which surprisingly, Grall has had no luck in finding."
"What if the beast won't talk, Sire?" Sagitar asked.
Ublaz laughed softly. "A very good point General. But I can make the hardest beast babble secrets like a brook in spring, never fear."
Sagitar nodded. "Aye, so you can. I will see to it, when should we lay our trap?"
Ublaz smiled. "Tonight. And every night after. Stay hidden in the shadows of the walls, have archers with you. On the night of the new moon, in a week, I will join you. I have a .. feeling about it."
=Next=
The evening breeze blew quietly over Redwall, washing away the warm hues of the day and turning the red stones a soft gray. Grath sat atop the west wall, industriously working on a painting.
Her thoughts were awhirl with what Sayna had said, for it wasn't easy to get much that the mouse said out of one's head.
She looked down at her painting, sighing. For some reason, she just wasn't interested in painting another sunset over Redwall. She'd painted just about everything that was to be seen about the abbey, and a restless spirit was stirring within her.
No, this is my home. It's safe here, and ... they might need me. Besides .. I don't know if I'm really brave enough to leave.
Grath closed her eyes, suddenly opening them and dipping her brush in black paint. With quick, practiced strokes, the otter did something she'd never done before .. she was painting something that she saw in her mind, and not before her.
She'd never let herself do this before, but something had shifted. It wasn't anything around her that had changed .. it was very odd. Somehow .. she felt different.
The otter looked down at her picture, staring at it for a moment. "You were my best friend."
Grath stroked the image, whispering, "I miss you, I hope you're happy .. wherever you are, Lutran."
She suddenly clutched the book to her, hanging her head over it. "Why did it have to happen? I .. I don't understand."
The soft breeze through her hair was her only answer, and she answered herself. "They were just .. greedy, ruthless murderers. Just like all vermin are. I don't want to be the sort of beast that lives for revenge, I want to do more with my life .. but .."
She slowly looked down at her picture, muttering, "Who am I kidding, I can't be a pirate hunter."
"What about hunting pirates?" Tansy was walking along the parapet, and she paused at this point.
Grath sat up, shaking herself. "Nothing."
"That's pretty." Tansy picked up Grath's picture. "Who is it?"
"It's my .." Grath paused, sighing, "My brother. One of them. I had two .. once."
The hedgehog sat down, handing Grath the paper. "Oh .. I'm sorry."
Grath stared at her painting, murmuring, "I'm forgetting what he looked like."
Tansy didn't say anything, just stared up at the evening's first stars. Grath looked at her a moment, before doing the same.
"They're so far away and untouchable .. kind of like the future, you know?"
Grath looked at Tansy, before looking up again, and nodding. "Yea."
"Sort of like the past too. You can see them up there, but you can't change them or reach them. They're just .. up there. Like .. some sort of promise .. or reminder, or .. something." Tansy smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, that sounds so silly when I say it."
Grath sighed. "It's not that silly .. I sort of understand what you mean."
The two smiled at each other, and Tansy rubbed a paw across her nose. "Really? Nobeast's ever said that to me. Of course .. I've never really voiced my thoughts either."
Grath looked up at the sky. "I wonder what our future is. Are we meant to be peaceful abbeybeasts our whole lives, or is there .. something more, something greater, just waiting for us?"
Tansy looked oddly at her. "What could be better than living in peace and happiness all our lives with our friends?"
"Oh I don't know." Grath shook her head. "Some .. magnificent adventure to help the oppressed and free them from the clutches of evil beasts. You know what I mean?"
Tansy shrugged. "Not really. I think the kitchens might miss me if I was gone that long. Or I might miss the kitchens .. or yea. Something like that. Why would you want to leave our home, don't you love it here?"
Grath nodded. "Yes, of course .."
She stood up. "But there is a restless voice in my heart, and I know someday .. I'm going to have to follow a different path than all of you. I hope we'll always be friends, but .. there's something in me unlike the rest of Redwall."
The otter leaned over the battlements, looking across the western flatlands, now darkened by the grip of night.
"It's a warrior's spirit, isn't it?" Tansy asked.
"Yes ... I think so, anyway. I almost .. hope so." Grath turned around. "How did you know?"
Tansy looked up at her. "Abbot Durral said it about you once, when he first saw you."
=Next=
After the incident with the Monitors, Xzaris and his crew tread equally as carefully. It had been three days, and nobeast had dared raise a paw against their captain, though Xzaris sensed an undercurrent of tension, and figured he'd be forced to deal with it sooner or later.
There was a knocking on his cabin door, and Val burst in, shoving a plate of sushi under his nose. "I made ya sonethin' capt'n! Thought ya could use somethin' nice ta eat. Cause ya haven't been eatin' much. An' Romsca said I gotta keep an' eye on her boyfriend."
Xzaris stopped chewing on his quill, looking up. "She said what?"
"That I gotta keep an' eye on her boyfriend!" Val was cheerful.
Xzaris was dubious, raising an eyebrow in a sort of unimpressed fashion. "She .. said it sorta different though, didn't she?"
Val flicked an ear, rolling her eyes. "Weeeelll ... yea, sorta. But I know what she meant!"
"Aha .. yea." Xzaris didn't look convinced. "I can im'gine."
He turned back to his maps, but Val didn't move, just stared at him, smiling broadly. Xzaris tried to ignore her for a minute, but that was nearly impossible, so he sighed. "What do ya want Val?"
The vixen grinned. "I'm keepin' an eye on ya, what else. Aren't ya gonna eat that?"
Xzaris cast a glance at the sushi, which did look appetizing, he had to admit. The ferret popped a piece into his mouth, smiling a bit forcedly. "Yea. Good stuff."
Val grabbed one, dunking it in a dish of greenish sauce. "Aren't ya gonna try me wasabi dip with that?"
Xzaris opened his mouth to say he planned to, and Val shoved the item in. "Extra spicy!"
The ferret swallowed with difficulty, coughing and rubbing at his eyes as he dug through his desk, pulling out a bottle of wine and quickly draining a sixth of it. "Aggh ... no .. kiddin'!"
Val grinned. "I know right?"
Xzaris rolled his eyes, sighing. "Look Val, I'll eat it. It's real great. I'm jist depressed right now, an' I donno if I can really do this, ok?"
He scowled. "An' if I do git it done ... what's the reward .. me life? I don't want .. jist me life, but I'm .. jist a rotten coward an' I donno what ta do."
Val blinked, before stating, "Oh, ya ain't no coward .."
"Yes, I am." Xzaris snapped. "I jist am, see? An' I ain't gonna explain why, please .. jist leave me alone."
Val sighed. "Alright capt'n."
She paused in the doorway. "But you eat alla that see, no throwin' it out the windows or I will find out!"
The vixen turned around. "Um .. capt'n? Quick question .. been lookin' at the sky?"
Xzaris looked up. "Yes, this mornin'. Looked a bit cloudy .."
"Well it's more than a bit." Val remarked, and Xzaris joined her in the doorway. The entire western horizon was filled with dark gray, angry clouds, and the ferret captain groaned.
"Great. It's gonna blow us off course fer sure .. Darkshroud ain't big enough ta maintain a straight path in somethin' like that .. fact I doubt any ship is."
"Ye'll get us through though, ain't ya?" Val asked a bit nervously.
Xzaris pulled the door of his cabin shut. "I'll do me best."
He walked forward, yelling, "On yer feet, furl the mainsail!"
The ferret bounded up the forecastle stairs two at a time, taking hold of the wheel. He looked again to the wall of black clouds, filled with sheet lightning.
Xzaris shook his head, gripping the wheel more tightly. He'd been in storms before, on the many voyages he'd been on as a crew member. But being the captain, responsible for the outcome of whatever choices he made .. that was far harder.
=Next=
"Furl the mainsail, batten the hatches an' all those not on duty, get below!"
Romsca strode swiftly across the deck, running up the forecastle steps to the wheel, taking it from Rafglan. The rat cast a glance at the quickly advancing clouds, stating, "It should be a'right, so long as ya keep our back ta it. Should git us ta Mossflower faster. We gonna go .. where yer father went?"
"Yes." Romsca looked behind her once, before turning to the east again. "There might be some answers."
"Wull it should be safe 'nough. There ain't gonna be no otters." Rafglan shrugged.
Romsca took a deep breath, thinking of a long ago day, when she'd had compassion on an ottermaid her own age. "Never mind that, we're gonna be careful. Who knows what sorts a beasts might live there now."
Rafglan nodded. "Fair nough."
He paused, asking, "Yer arm better, Capt'n?
Romsca glanced at the bandage and the gash through her shirt where she'd caught herself with the whip. "It's fine."
The wind suddenly whistled through the rigging, billowing Romsca's hair about her face. Rafglan sighed. "We're in fer it."
The first sheet of rain hit Waveworm, and the sea soon became choppy, tossing the ship about like a toy. Romsca kept a tight hold on the wheel, despite the heavy pull on the rudder from the rolling waves.
"How long ya think it's gonna last?" Romsca had to yell above the wind.
Rafglan held onto the railing, shaking his head. "Donno, this one's a big'un like they is in summer .. could last as long as a week!"
Romsca scowled, gripping the wheel tightly as a wave threw spray across the deck. She kept her eyes fixed ahead, but her mind was elsewhere, on her friends.
Her teeth didn't part as she mumbled, "Oh Xzaris, Rasconza, Val ... may Atlas go with ya."
=Next=
"Port oars! We'll ride the storm out, come on, move it!"
The stoat cracked his whip above one of the slave's ears, a young haremaid with dull indigo eyes. She glared at him almost threateningly, and he flicked his lash out again, stinging one ear expertly. "Har, I ain't Cateye me pretty, but you'll wish I was."
He snickered, coiling the lash and hurrying out of the galley. The hare glared after him, her short claws digging into the wood of her oar.
The blonde haired mouse beside her laid a paw on her arm. "Wind ... don't do it. Just don't, please."
The hare's voice was pretty flat, tinged slightly by anger. "Why do you put up with them."
"Because if I don't, I will die, and Captain Rasconza is not a bad master." The mouse's voice was softer then her rowing partner.
"Selina, he's a pirate, an' he killed all the family I had in the world, of course I hate him. Why don't you, you should." Wind's voice was surprisingly monotone.
Selina shrugged. "I know what he is .."
"And he doesn't exactly treat us well, we row his ship for him an' get whipped for it." Wind scowled.
The mouse sighed. "You get whipped because you fight them. I don't, and you don't see me getting whipped. Just .. give up."
Wind gave Selina a look, voice flat. "The day I give up is the day I die."
Selina looked down. "That's what I'm worried about. Captain Rasconza has patience unlike any master I've ever served .. he's not a rich beast, and he needs us to row for him. But if you don't stop antagonizing him, he's going to kill you or sell you, so please don't!"
Wind curled her lip. "Are you defending him."
"Well .. in a way." Selina shrugged. "He just took you in a raid, but I've been a slave for most of my life. I was born on Terramort, but they took me when I was ten seasons or so."
She paused, adding, "Rasconza wasn't always my master, the beast who took me was a cruel captain. He worked me to death, literally, and then sold me .. I didn't have much hope but to die. However Rasconza bought me, along with some others, and he saved us. Of course .. I see his motives, we were inexpensive and all we really needed was rest. But I'm not going to hate him, Wind."
Wind opened her mouth to say something, but Selina beat her to it. "He also feeds us well, we have enough water, he switches us from one side of the ship to the other, when we're in port, he lets the obedient creatures bathe, and if you noticed, they don't actually whip you unless you disobey."
"It's only cause he wants more work out of us." Wind pointed out.
Selina nodded. "I don't doubt it, but it's a better life than most oar slaves have. So don't abuse it, when you do, you only make it harder for the rest of us."
=Next=
On the Darkshroud, life was pretty miserable for everybeast. Day and night became one, turned black by the violent storm the little ship was caught in.
Crew, cook, and captain alike fought the sea, the only creatures who did nothing were the Monitors, who stayed in the hold as much as possible. Xzaris barely had time to check the maps, and there was no way for him to determine their position, both the sun and the stars blotted out by wicked black clouds.
The ferret captain had ahold of the wheel at that very moment, straining against the roiling sea, completely soaked and bone weary. Val ran up the forecastle steps, flashing him a stalwart grin. "Capt'n, dinner's ready. Least I think it's dinner. Might be breakist fer all I know, haha!"
Xzaris spit some water out of his mouth, yelling above the wind. "Yea, what 'bout the bailin' crew, how much water have we taken?"
Val shrugged. "Way ta many buckits full fer me ta count 'em, but we're keepin' the sea out purty well, aye aye!"
Xzaris coughed, nodding as Val grinned. "Hey, there's one good thing 'bout alla this ... we don't gotta scrub the deck!"
The ferret gave her a look, as a giant wave lashed over the deck, soaking him even further. Val grinned. "I love bein' wet! Wull, I'll see about the bailin' an' all!"
Xzaris groaned, cursing as the wheel suddenly ripped itself from his paws, spinning madly. He grabbed it again, forcing it to still as there was a frantic shout from one of the lookouts. "Capt'n! Capt'n!"
The rest of his words were cut off by the wind, but Xzaris yelled for his first mate, helping to bail water. "Skarbod! Take the wheel, now!"
The stoat ran to do as he said, taking hold of the wheel as Xzaris added, "Keep her course straight!"
Xzaris lurched down the forecastle steps, hurrying along the rocking deck to where the lookout was. By now there was widespread panic, and the ferret grabbed the nearest beast. "Well, what is it? Speak!"
The creature struggled, stammering, "The Maelstrom Capt'n!"
Xzaris dropped him, running to the railing, just as a brilliant bolt of lightning ripped across the sky, turning night to day for one minute. The ferret stood frozen for one second, staring at the swirling mass of greenish gray water they were headed straight for.
Val skidded to a stop beside him, all cheerfulness stripped from her voice, leaving only terror. "The Green Maelstrom an' the Roarin'burn!"
"The Roaringburn .." Xzaris held up a paw, testing the wind. "That's it Val, the Roaringburn!"
The ferret ran back along the deck, shouting at the top of his lungs, "All hands ta the mainmast, prepare ta loose the sail! Now, now if ya don't wanna be knockin' on Hellgates!"
Xzaris stumbled up the forecastle stairs, gripping the wheel and growling through teeth clenched from exertion. "Help me turn her Skarbod, fer the mercy a Atlas!"
The stoat did as he was told, and between them, they managed to turn Darkshroud abreast of the swirling Maelstrom, which they were nearing by the minute. Xzaris nodded. "Now hold her, hold her fer yer life!"
Skarbod strained against the sea's will as Xzaris leaned over the forecastle railing, shouting, "Loose the sail, loose the sail now!"
For one split second, all those who heard stood still in shock. Xzaris broke them from their indecision. "Move ya lazy dogs! Move lest ya send us ta our graves!"
The crew ran forward, untying the ropes as quickly as they could. Xzaris gripped the wheel along with Skarbod, as the ship began to shudder with the increasing pull of the maelstrom. Xzaris's voice was a hoarse rasping as he yelled, "Now! 'For it's too late!"
Val suddenly pushed through the beasts around the mainmast, drawing her saber and slashing through the ropes. "He said now!"
The sail came plummeting down, catching the wind and billowing out. Val seized one of the ropes she'd cut, screaming, "Secure it!"
Crewbeasts did as she said, with no other option. Darkshroud leapt forward like a wild stallion, plunging directly past the mass of roiling green water, and continuing its mad rush.
Skarbod gripped the wheel, panting, "I never did see the like!"
There was an ominous creaking from the mast, and Xzaris ran down the forecastle stairs, yelling, "Furl the sail, quick, she can't take it!"
Already, rips were showing in the once perfect sail, and Xzaris could hear the mast cracking under the strain. "Hoist her, now!"
The ferret gripped one of the ropes, yanking with all his might. Val appeared at his side, grabbing the rope. "Right with ya Capt'n, let's do this!"
Another crew member joined them, as others took hold of the other ropes. Xzaris nodded, shouting, "All tagether, pull!"
Little by little, the sail was hoisted to it's former position, and the ropes tied back down with some difficulty due to the fact they were shorter than before. Xzaris leaned against the mast for a moment, the wind and rain lashing through his fur, hanging from him like rags.
Val yanked her saber from the mast, sheathing it as Xzaris noticed her. "Thank ya Val .. we'd be at the bottom a the sea if it weren't fer ya."
The vixen grinned again, wiping sopping red hair from her eyes. "No problem capt'n, sure I promised Romsca I'd look after her boyfriend."
Xzaris stood up straight again, sighing, "Yea. Sure."
He hurried back to the wheel, taking it from Skarbod. "Thanks fer holdin' it."
The stoat blinked at him. "I was just doin' what ya said Capt'n. An' sure was a good thing ta .. without yer quick thinkin', we'd all be dead .. none a us woulda thoughta it."
Xzaris paused, before shrugging as a clap of angry thunder rumbled through the heavens. "I only did what needed done. See about the bailin' Skarbod, we ain't outa this yet."
