The Ocean's Echoes

by Sayna S. Luke

The sequel to 'Stolen Tears'. Seven seasons have passed, and Emperor Ublaz is ready to search for the pearls again. He'll do anything to get them, even pit three best friends against each other in a ruthless game of death. Hearts will be tested, truth will be found, and prices will be paid as the saga of young pirate continues, and the stakes are raised.

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 24 Twenty-Four Hours too Late

Romsca and the abbot were eating on the forecastle, weapons close to paw. Durral shrugged. "This is the last of the food captain. And there's very little water."

"That's fine." Romsca shrugged. "It's getting late in the day, we'll sight Sampetra any time now."

She pulled out her spyglass and scanned the waves, before returning it to her belt. "What I don't unnerstand is how we had this food inna first place. I thought it was about gone. Maybe yer just such a good cook ya can make anythin' taste good. Course I have been eatin' Rubby's food .. rest his soul, but I'd rather eat hay like me horse."

Durral made a face. "He .. was a pretty terrible cook."

"A course he was, he was a sailor, just too old ta sail. A beast like that has a hard time findin' a job .. he'd always been loyal ta me father, since me father was the only one who'd take pity on him, an' he was a true friend a mine."

Romsca looked down. "I just shut everybeast out .. cause I was afraid ta trust. I still am Abbotmouse."

He looked confused. "Why?"

"Cause .. I was dumb enough ta think some beasts were actually on me side, an' then I realized they were on their own. It's everybeast fer themselves on Sampetra; it's somethin' ya learn early. But me dad wasn't like that, and I guess I hoped some others weren't too. Stupid thinkin'."

"Everybeast isn't like that captain." Durral brushed a paw against her sleeve fractionally, before letting it slip to his side.

Romsca stared across the sea. "Maybe among woodlanders Abbotmouse. But ya can't say it a vermin. There's very few I would trust on that island."

Durral looked nervous. "But can you trust any? Will we have any help?"

Romsca smiled slightly. "A few. And very few, but I can think of perhaps four."

She looked around, asking, "Is Sayna still asleep?"

"I think so, she was tired after the seagulls and staying up all night to fight the storm." Durral shrugged, collecting the dishes.

"I'm awake." Sayna's voice rang out from behind them. "I just needed a little sleep."

Durral blinked at her. "Your ear's white."

Romsca looked at the mousewife, to see the abbotmouse was right. The tip of her left ear was pure white, fading to silver and then the normal gold at the base.

Sayna raised an eyebrow. "Durral, I don't have a white ear; I never have."

"But he's right ya know." Romsca broke in. "Ya do now."

The mouse looked around for something to use as a mirror, and picked up a shield left over from the battle. She looked into it for a moment, before setting it down.

"Well?" Romsca asked. "What's with it?"

Sayna shrugged. "At this time, I'm uncertain. But I don't really have time to think about it ... would you say there's a smudge on the horizon, captain? Or is it my eyes playing tricks?"

Romsca whipped out her spyglass, looking at where Sayna had pointed. "That's no trick. Lower the anchor quickly, we should be on the east side, an' I'm aiming for the north-east coast. Let's review the plan an' then sail in under cover a dusk."

She looked at Durral. "The map please?"

He pulled the item in question out of his belt, and she spread it on the deck. "Right, our chief concern is to avoid the city, here."

"But even outside the city, won't some farmer or fisherbeast see us?" Durral looked confused.

"Are ya mad?" Romsca suddenly seemed to realize who she was talking to. "I mean .. I'm sorry Abbotmouse. But we don't leave our walls, not more than a day's journey, an' only a suicidal fool would be fishing far beyond the city after dark."

Durral looked unsure. "And .. why would that be?"

"Seriously? Where've ya been the last thousand years?"

Sayna's face was expressionless, and her voice carried a hint of dry humor. "Various places."

Romsca coughed. "Oh yea, never mind. It's cause a the ghosts .. the things that occupy our island and hunt us like prey. We thought it was the Monitors fer a long time, but now that Ublaz made pets outa 'em .. well .. bottom line, there's still somethin' out there."

"How do you really know for sure, if you haven't seen them for yourself?" Durral was hopeful.

Romsca looked unimpressed. "Let'see, ratguard are found dead at their post, shot with arrows. Some vanish and are never seen alive again. But don't ya worry, we find their armor shredded like it was fabric, and their bones are always lyin' around snapped and gouged with giant tooth marks."

Durral shuddered. "I'm sorry I asked."

"Apparently whatever they are, they can swim, since small fishing boats too far from home after nightfall are sometimes found smashed ta bits ona shore the next mornin', on clear nights." Romsca continued. "The wood is slashed and splintered as if by the finest of blades, over an' over, an' the owners are a few smashed bones. So don't tell me it ain't real."

"P .. point taken." Durral nodded. "And .. we're sailing in after dark?"

"No, we're rowin' a row boat in after dark." Romsca rolled up the map, standing up. "Be ready fer anythin'."

As she swung down the stairs, Durral looked at Sayna. "Are you really agreeing to this?"

"What else can we do?" Sayna shrugged. "Sit on a ship and starve or wait for them to find us? No, ghosts or not, I'm not going to do that."

Durral followed her, muttering something that sounded rather like, "I'm just a peaceful abbot .."

=Next=

The cool night breeze swept softly over the sea and the shore of Sampetra as Romsca guided the Waveworm ever closer. She handed Sayna the spyglass, stating, "Look fer a small bay .. rocky. I've seen it several times in passin'."

"But won't it be too shallow?" Durral asked.

Sayna sighed. "This is a Sampetrian raider."

"And that means .."

"It's flat bottomed." Sayna sighed.

Durral looked slightly offended. "I don't read pirate culture."

Sayna rolled her eyes. "Do you read ours? Have you heard of Bloodwake?"

"Heard of what?" Durral was confused.

"Arg. How about Wuddship?"

At that, the abbot's eyes brightened with understanding. "Martin the Warrior's vessel, yes Sayna, I do know of that. But why?"

Sayna sighed. "Point being, we stole that ship from Ripfang, whom Scound served; and he in turn incorporated the design into the ships of the nation he built. Sampetra."

"Scound?" Durral was not comprehending. "We?"

Romsca broke in a little gruffly. "Look, we are going into the mouth of a dragon here, ya mind leavin' history debates ta the past an' help me with the present?"

Sayna nodded. "Aye, aye, sorry captain. You have a good point."

Her eyes twinkled a little as she looked through the spyglass, stating, "I see high cliffs, mostly."

"Right. Abbotmouse, are ya keepin' an eye out fer gulls?"

He blinked. "But .. they aren't nocturnal."

Romsca gave him a dark look. "Don't underestimate nothin' on Sampetra. It's a good way ta die."

"I hate this place already." Durral muttered.

"Ha. Ya haven't seen nothing' Abbotmouse .. lemme asure ya a that." Romsca huffed. "Now focus."

The coast of Sampetra was dark and rocky here, lacking in beaches, with cliffs that met the sea. The wild bamboo forest was visible, shadowed in darkness but growing near the shore.

"I'm lookin' fer a lagoon a sorts .. should be around here somewhere .."

Sayna squinted through the glass, asking, "Right there, perhaps?"

Romsca took the item, observing for a moment, before handing it back. "Yea, that looks right. Good thing we gotta breeze from the south east. Keep your eyes peeled .. Abbotmouse, watch the sky! Sayna, watch for whitecaps, that means a reef, so tell me instantly."

She gripped the wheel, and Durral broke in. "You seem awfully tense .."

"Yer supposed ta be watchin' the sky Abbotmouse. An' I ain't tense."

"Hard right!" Sayna pointed left at the chunk of spray washes rock jutting from the waves, and Romsca spun the wheel to the right.

"Steady as she goes ... further right!"

Romsca reacted spontaneously, he voice holding a bit of a threat. "I'm trustin' ya ta guide me ship mouse .. ya better be correct, cause if ya wreck me .. I'll be minus a ship an' our presence won't be a secret no more."

"I understand captain .. hard left!" Sayna ordered.

"Ya could just say port'n starboard, I know them better." Romsca grumbled, obeying.

Sayna nodded. "That's right. And go right!"

"Arg .. ya better pull through with this .." Romsca turned the wheel.

A gust of wind caught the sail, sending the ship forward, and Sayna exclaimed. "Further right! Quickly!"

Romsca growled, spinning the wheel right as fast as she could. There was a jolt and a scraping, before the ship slid free of the reef, sailing slowly toward the island. "Hey, somebeast go check fer damage!"

Romsca paused as she realized she had no crew left. "Grrumph .. fine. It didn't sound too awful .. I think we can afford to check it in port."

It took a little careful maneuvering to get the ship into the small lagoon, and without the blessed night breeze, it would have never happened, for there were nowhere near enough beasts to row. Romsca cranked the anchor winch to lower it, looking up at the sails with a glare. "We've gotta secure those things."

"Do we really have time?" Sayna looked up from where she and Durral were loading the last lifeboat with some of the fishing tackle kept aboard Waveworm.

Romsca shook her head. "That's the thing .. I donno."

Durral looked at her. "Weren't you going to disguise yourself?"

"Right. Thank ya Abbotmouse." She nodded hurrying down to the galley and rubbing her paws in the soot of the cooking fire. She scrubbed it into her cream mask, then her cream tail-tip. Romsca dusted her paws off, before running up to her cabin and pulling her long black cloak from her trunk of clothes. She used it for rain, but fisherbeasts often wore similar to protect from the thick sea mist that often dampened the night.

She grabbed her axe and checked to see her knives were all in place, before scanning the room and grabbing her spyglass and compass. It would have to do.

Sayna and Durral were waiting for her, and she cast a regretful glance at the sails, but shook her head. "Yer right, we gotta go. The later it is, the more dangerous as well."

They climbed aboard the little boat, lowering it to the water, and Romsca picked up the oars, pulling on them. "I don't wanna be out here longer'n I have ta."

The mist was slowly rolling in, but the stars shone brightly with the quarter moon, lighting everything eerily. A few clouds spiraled across the otherwise clear sky, and Durral was ill at ease. Sayna too, had an alert look about her .. even more alert then normal.

"What's the plan again?" Durral asked nervously.

"Pertend ta be fisherbeasts that ain't caught nothin'. Then act like creatures tryin' ta git home after a day in the shipyards, and get to me uncles house. Let me cover fer us if needed .. please." Romsca spoke as she rowed. "Can ya see any lights?"

"I'm not sure." Sayna frowned, before pointing. "Yes, right there."

Sure enough, the faint lights of Sampetra were visible through the darkness, and Romsca rowed harder. Sayna raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't need help with that?"

"No .. it's fine, I don't feel tired at all." Romsca shook her head. "We've got ta move fast .. they normally strike starting an hour after dark .. an' it's plenty late. Besides, I feel like I have the strength ta take on all the ratguard. Just not phantom beasts on the open sea inna rowboat."

Sayna frowned. "You shouldn't overdo it captain."

"Ya already told me I'm practically invincible, what harm can it do?" Romsca raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"Practically." Sayna nodded. "Wait until you die the first time, then you'll pay for your misuse of the Flowers. You've barely eaten and not slept at all the last three days, and you overwork yourself continually .. as soon as we find any safety at all, you will rest, even if I have to tie you down."

Romsca rolled her eyes. "Yer gonna be waitin' awhile fer that. I say if my physical limits are immortal, I'll make the best a it."

Sayna rubbed her forehead. "That's what I'm afraid of."

They were in the bay now, and Durral stared about them at the looming ships, shrouded in the thin mist. "These are your ships?"

"Not mine Abbotmouse, most times the capt'n owns his own ship, but sometimes they're hired by another. The Imperial fleet is a grand sight though, ain't it? I'm proud ta sail fer me country." Romsca looked down. "At least .. I was. I donno what ta be prouda now. But this is my home .. I just wish it could be somethin' better'n it is."

She looked around, an odd look on her face. "Although .. there's not half as many ships as I would expect."

Romsca looked confused. "This many can't be out raidin' .. it ain't rational. Even Madeyes wouldn't be fool enough ta raid this much in one summer .. he couldn't."

Understanding flashed in her eyes. "Then they must be out doin' else .. if one a me friends managed ta kill the Monitors like me .. Ublaz wouldn't have anybeast ta bring them back. So he'd comb the seas til he found them .. what if they'd found the pearls? He'll do anything ta get those things."

"Speaking of which," Durral asked with some concern. "You didn't leave them on your ship to be smashed by the ghost creatures?"

"Of course not." Romsca scowled. "Ta be honest I thought bout it. But it ain't my duty ta decide what happens ta them, an' maybe they'd help an honest beast as much as a villain. Now hold on .. this might be a little bumpy."

"But you know lots about boats .." Durral protested.

Romsca grumbled. "Big ones, but I'm a capt'n, not a ferrybeast."

"Pier!" Sayna pointed, but it was too late, as the boat smacked into one of the wooden supports, sending all three occupants sprawling onto the tackle in the bottom of it.

Romsca's paw slammed onto a fishing hook, and she sat up, wincing a little as she pulled it out. A little blood beaded on her black fur, but the injury vanished with a flash. She swung up onto the dock, helping Durral up as she asked, "Is it always gonna be this way?"

Sayna climbed slowly after them, nodding. "For a long while at least. I heal far slower, but there is far less Flower left within me."

"Can we move?" Durral shivered, looking frightened of the dank shipyards.

Romsca nodded. "Aye. But ya ain't supposed ta look scared Abbotmouse, we're goin' fer sad old drunk here, remember?"

Durral scowled. "How could I forget?"

Sayna drew Romsca's short cape around her shoulders, mostly concealing her sword. The ferret walked forward, shivering once as her boots left the old dock and landed once again on Sampetrian soil. As she and her companions walked along the worn cobblestone road running parallel with the sea, Romsca spoke again. "An' I should warn ya. My people are usually more than welcomin' ta beasts a their own class."

"They are pirates." Durral sounded confused.

Romsca smiled dryly. "Ah yes, but Abbotmouse, yer a pirate now too."

She scowled. "These taverns .. we're gonna have ta pass one here. Don't be surprised if .."

Romsca broke off as one of the beasts, a rat leaning against the railing of the shabby building's occupied porch hailed them. "Hoi mates, tough luck fishin'? Care ta share a glass or so?"

Romsca shrugged swiftly. "Sorry mate, love ta, but we ain't caught nothin' an' funds is scarce."

"Aw, tough luck mates. Anyhow, care ta hear the news anyway? Come'on, maybe some a yer mates'll treat ya if'n they's hear."

"But matey, we's plain done in." Sayna replied wittily. "Fishin' was tirin', an' we need a good night's rest ta fish tomorrow."

The rat who had hailed them nodded. "I unnerstan', but ain't right not ta tell the news this time, not when it's bout Capt'n Romsca!"

Romsca froze, as Durral stammered in a un-vermin manner, "W.. what?"

"Aye, a wrecked lifeboat was found on'a shore after that last storm .. one'a her sailors, Kage a the Crab I thinks, he was alive an' told Sagitar he thought the ship'd gone down!" The creature was obviously tipsy. "Ain't that rich? If it don't rain, it pours ya know? Right after Capt'n Xzaris came in!"

Romsca froze, her clenched fangs gleaming from under her hood, and Sayna acted fast, yawning. "Aye, it's pourin' fer sure. I think we'd best git home afore we git soaked."

The rat found this funny, and laughed heartily. "I like ya missy, ya come ta this tavern some? Ain't seen ya round much, ya gotta boyfriend?"

Sayna raised an eyebrow, voice dry. "No."

"Wanna drink? I'll by ya one if'n you'll hang 'round a bit, yer right purty." He grinned foolishly, and Sayna looked less than impressed.

"Sorry, I've got other commitments tanight. Ain't that right mateys?"

She poked Durral, who nodded quickly. "Yes .. yes quite .."

Sayna slapped him on the back and he coughed, interrupting his poor slang. "Aye, that's the spirit mate. We best be goin'."

Romsca came alive again, nodding, and they hurried away. As soon as they were out of hearing rang, Durral shook himself, asking, "He wanted to romance you?"

Sayna rolled her eyes. "He's half drunk and obviously thinks I'm a fellow rat. At least the disguise is working so far."

"He has Xzaris!"

Durral looked oddly at Romsca. "He does?"

She growled, "No, not the rat, Madeyes! Ublaz has him and it means ..."

She closed her eyes, voice breaking. "He's .. already dead. Xzaris .. not ya! Me, not ya! Oh why Ignasa? Why?"

=Next=

The darkness was complete, though the silence was broken by the footsteps of the guard in the corridor.

Xzaris's world was swimming with terrible pain; he had endured pain before, but nothing like this. The scent of blood was everywhere, and even in his state, he knew whose it was.

The memory of Ublaz ripping his claws into his eyes multiple times returned, and Xzaris tried to open them. It nearly made him shriek, and even as it was, a whimper of pain slid through his clenched teeth. The steps outside stopped, and he braced himself for a shout or snarl, but none came.

There was a soft clink, as if paws had gripped something metal, a pause, and then the soft click of a lock turning.

Somebeast knelt beside him, and a gentle paw brushed across his forehead. "You're awake, captain?"

"Who .. is ya ..?" Xzaris mumbled and groaned at the same time.

"N .. nobeast." The voice sighed. "Nobeast important anyway. My name's Shilo, I'm just a ratguard."

"How bad off ... am I?" Xzaris coughed.

Shilo laid a paw on his shoulder, pressing him back on the straw covered cell floor, but he did not answer.

"I'm blind ... ain't I? An'.. dyin' atop it. Ain't that right?"

The ratguard sounded young and insecure, Xzaris imagined the frightened face of a child behind that shaking voice. "Y .. yes captain."

Xzaris didn't reply instantly, as he felt all he had dared to hope for slip away. He'd failed. Ublaz's words came back to him, mocking him.

"I will make you what you fear most ... I will make you useless."

He was useless, just like his mother had always said. She was right. He was blind, and probably disfigured beyond recognition. He would never sail the ship he'd worked so hard for, and even if she saw him, Romsca would not want anything to do with him.

Tears wanted to fall, but it was impossible, and his shoulders shook once with a dry, bitter sob. He was worthless, a cowardly blind polecat who couldn't even cry. It was over. There was no more hope left in the world for him.

"Good thing I'm dyin' then .." Xzaris muttered coldly. Life held nothing.

"I'm .. I'm sorry captain, I .. I wish I could do something, but .."

"There .. ain't nothin' nobeast could do. Maybe fate chose .. this fer me." Xzaris gave up fighting to move and relaxed, wishing he could see something .. anything. But that was forever taken from him.

A sudden thought occurred to him, and he murmured, "Is me satchel still here?"

"G .. General took the .. money, but yea .."

Xzaris groaned. "Ta Hellgates with money, is me scroll still there?"

There was a rummaging sound, before Shilo replied. "Yes."

"Then .. ya kin do somethin' fer me after all .. is Val alright?" Xzaris mumbled.

"She .. was given yer ship, yea .." The voice of the child stammered.

Xzaris found the young beast's small paw, tiny even for a rat. "Then .. give this ta her. Tell her it's fer capt'n Romsca. Tell her .. I hope she found those pearls."

Shilo stammered. "C .. captain Romsca?"

Something about his voice was off, like he knew more than he said. Xzaris felt a wave of fear wash over him .. had she suffered his fate? How long had he been unconscious? "What 'bout her? Is somethin' wrong .. did Ublaz ..."

"N .. no .. nothing like that." Shilo said it a little too quickly. "I .. I'll .. try I guess .. when I can."

"Please see .. she gets it .." Talking hurt, everything hurt, and blackness crowded the edges of his mind. He wanted nothing more than to sink into it, but coherency refused to slip away.

There was a scuffling and clinking as Shilo stood, and more as the cell door latched behind him and the lock turned. The clinks of Shilo's armored boots faded, and he was left alone .. and how alone it felt. He faced death, it was coming quickly, and he could sense its presence .. his entire being was racked with agony, yet a cold nothingness was following close on its heels.

What would follow the end of this life? He had never spent much time thinking about it, mostly because he feared it, and now he feared it even more. Every Sampetrian who believed in the deities feared .. and who knew if he would be buried at sea so Lady Atlas could come for him? Most likely the Monitors would eat him .. his spirit would never have rest, he would be forced to wander the earth at night, watching the ones he loved but never interacting with them again, not even when they died.

Or would Lord Fora come for him instead, the lord of death itself, and choose he deserved eternal torment?

The lords were cynical and uncaring in their approach to mortals, only the strongest and most virtuous were accepted into eternal paradise, the Land of the Sun, ruled by the sun lord, Rayith.

"I don't think ye mean so little. No living creature does. Not to me, and not to Ignasa."

For some reason, Arashi's words came back to him. Her strength even after she had lost so much. Her faith in a foreign lord, faith that could not be explained by mortals.

"Ignasa may not have saved my husband from death, but he saved his soul from death. He can do that for ye. After all, it's what's inside that matters. Not what's on the outside."

Would he really? What sort of Lord would actually heed a mortal's cry?

But there was nothing to lose, there was no other spark of hope left, only one memory; the strange faith of a strange beast .. to an even stranger lord.

=Next=

Romsca didn't bother with knocking on the courtyard gates, in fact, she didn't bother knocking at all. She pulled the key from behind it's brick hiding place, opened the gates, and quickly ushered the two mice in.

After locking them again, she led Sayna and Durral across the courtyard and into the foyer of the manor. "Take a seat .. please don't touch anythin'. An' mind yerself round me uncle, he's a vetran warrior an' famed fer mastery a the blade. He's got a long fuse, but I'll just tell ya straight up, his fiancé was killed by woodlanders, an' she was nothin' but a healer, she couldn't defend herself. I ain't sayin' he's right, but he's touchy 'bout woodlanders. Ya know. I'm gonna go get him, ya stay put."

She hurried deeper into the manor, the moonlight streaming through the un-shuttered windows lighting her way. Romsca found her uncle's door in the long hallway, opening it quietly. "Uncle .."

He was asleep in bed, even snoring. Romsca rolled her eyes. "Uncle! Wake up!"

"Yes .. yes .. in a minute .." He mumbled, rolling over and snoring spontaneously.

Romsca shook him, growling, "No, not inna minute. Come on uncle, I need ya now!"

Barranca slowly opened his eyes, mumbling something that could not be understood. Romsca sighed. "Wake up!"

He squinted, then threw his covers off, leapt up, and knocked her over in the same movement. Romsca rolled away, springing to her feet as there was the sound of steal being drawn. "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?!"

She drew her axe, hissing, "Uncle, it's me!"

Barranca slowly lowered his blade. "Romsca?"

"Yea. Me. Now ya ain't gonna try'n kill me, is ya?" Romsca indicated his saber, and he slowly sheathed it.

"What .. how?" Barranca was confused. "How did you get here? You didn't go down in the storm? Does Ublaz know you're here?"

Romsca shook her head. "Long story, no, an' no. An' we're gonna keep it that way. Now what happened to Xzaris?"

Barranca was silent, and Romsca's eyes flashed. "Tell me!"

"I .. don't know for sure. Nobeast does." Barranca said the words carefully. "Ublaz didn't reveal it to the public."

"You mean he didn't publicly execute him?" Romsca blinked.

"No."

Romsca shook herself. "Ok, what about Val?"

"She .. was given Darkshroud. At least that is the word on the streets, but she hasn't come here." Barranca approached the subject gingerly.

Romsca thought for a moment, before grabbing his arm. "Come with me, ya gotta help. I have two other beasts with me, the only others that survived the Monitor's attack on me ship .."

"You fought the Monitors?"

"Aye, an' killed them all. But all me crew died too."

Barranca stopped. "You mean Rafglan and Rubby .. are dead?"

Romsca hung her head for a moment, before nodding. "Yea. I .. I couldn't save them. In fact if it weren't fer these last two, I'da died as well."

Barranca started walking again. "Then I will treat them with the highest regard."

"Uncle!" Romsca grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. "Ya need ta know somethin' first. They're woodlanders ... a Mossflower warrior an' the king a that red castle, his Abbotness or somethin'."

The stoat stared at her. "What? And you brought them into my house?"

"They ain't what ya think, I swear. I was dyin', they coulda left me or killed me, but they didn't. No more a me crew was alive, they was the only ones. So please Uncle .." She paused, before sighing, "I know what ya told me happened with yer ladyfreind an all. But these ain't that kind a woodlander. Please treat them just like ya'd treat another vermin, that's what I do."

Barranca rubbed his forehead. "Alright .. alright .. let me get used to this idea. But the king of the red castle? That place is an eternal curse to us .. they resist our kind like no other!"

"Believe me uncle, he's .. not really the sort of beast ya'd think'd be the king a the red warriors." Romsca chose the nicest description she could think of.

"Ok .. just .. introduce them to me, please. Let me put some proper clothes on."

"No time fer that!" Romsca pulled him with her. "If Val's on Darkshroud then I gotta get the story from her."

Barranca sighed, shaking his head. "It's no good Romsca. Nobeast defies the emperor."

"I tried once .."

"And he broke you. The same thing will happen again." Barranca protested. "Please Romsca, don't."

Romsca's eyes flashed. "He killed father, and he stole love from me .. by Ignasa he won't kill my friend!"

Barranca stared at her. "What?"

It was enough of a pause for Romsca to lead him into the foyer, where Sayna and Durral sat on opposite sides of one of the couches. "Alright, Sayna, Abbotmouse, this is me uncle, Barranca. Uncle, this is Sayna the warrior, and Abbotmouse Durral. Ok? Ok. I've got ta go, an' now."

Durral and Barranca protested at the same time.

"You're leaving us with him?"

"You can't just leave them with me!"

Romsca groaned. "I'm sorry! I wish I didn't have ta, but I can't wait! Who knows what's happened ta Xzaris! Just ... please try'n get along til I get back. I must know, now!"

She bolted out the door before Barranca could say otherwise, cloak snapping behind her as she ran across the courtyard.

"Ahhgg .." Barranca rubbed a paw on his forehead as he slowly closed the door behind her.

"We're going to let her go who knows where?" Sayna asked.

Barranca scowled. "Look, mouse-lady, she's twenty seasons. She's old enough to make her own choices and deal with the consequences. She won't take me trying to stop her, and I'm not her father, I really don't have the ability to do any such thing. She's an adult."

A door opposite the one Barranca had entered creaked open, and Arashi yawned. "Barranca? Why do ye have guests at this time?"

Barranca sighed, grumbling, "Arashi .. your daughter has brought the king of the red castle and one of his warriors into my house .. and left them here!"

"What? Where is she?" Arashi exclaimed, ignoring the stoat's accusation.

Sayna shook her head. "Gone. She just left."

"To discover Xzaris's fate." Barranca added.

"What?" Arashi looked afraid. "I've got to go after her!"

Barranca grabbed her arm in the instant. "No! Arashi, you nearly exposed yourself out there yesterday .. how do I put this? It comes down to this. Romsca knows what she's doing. She's going to go down to the Darkshroud. You don't know what you're doing. By following her, you'll only endanger her, so I'm putting my foot down .. you are not going out there. Romsca's a captain. She won't take risks when there's no hope, and she won't rush into danger with no plan. We have to trust her this time."

=Next=

The streets were dark, and Romsca stuck to the even darker shadows, running at times, walking at others. The mist was rolling in earnestly now; shrouding the black shipyards and making the anchored vessels look skeletal.

Her boots pounded on the cobblestones of the ocean-side road, her eyes scanning the surroundings for movement. Though she was practically sprinting, it seemed far too slow; every second might as well have been an hour.

At least Val was alive. That was all she could hold onto, and it wasn't enough. A series of flashbacks flung themselves at her, but she didn't have time to ponder even one of them. Now was everything. This moment was all that had ever existed.

As she was nearing the dock Xzaris usually docked his ship on, her sensitive ears caught the sound of voices, and she left the road, sliding down the incline leading to the beach. Her foot caught on a stone, throwing her face-down into sand and filth, and she didn't move an inch. Pain lanced through her for a few moments, before fading away. She lay perfectly still, breathing as quietly as possible as several ratguards passed her vantage point.

"I'll tell ya mates, some nights is creepier than others. General must hate us, sendin' us ta do night patrol on a night like this .. easy ta get eaten by Monitors."

"Ha, General hates everybeast!"

"Har har, ain't that the truth."

Romsca waited until they were a ways away, before pulling herself to her feet and running along the beach toward the shadow of the pier and the ship she sought. She scrambled up the incline, claws digging into damp soil and gravel, finally making it to the road again.

After letting herself catch her breath for a few seconds, Romsca threw herself forward again, running the last paces onto the dock.

Darkshroud looked deserted, and the gangplank had been removed, but a rope ladder still offered a way up. Romsca grabbed it, hauling herself paw over paw with steely determination. She stumbled onto the deck, crouching and looking around carefully.

In the silence, she could hear the faint sound of sniffling, and she slowly moved toward the source. Now that she was on the deck of a docked ship that had just come in, she would be instantly suspicious, so she stayed low.

She reached the captain's cabin door, slowly knocking on it. There was a pause, before an sniffling voice answered. "Wh .. Who is ya?"

"Come on Val, lemme in!" Romsca hissed.

The vixen's voice sounded downright afraid. "H .. how do I know ya ain't fer Ublaz?"

"Fer cryin' out loud .." Romsca laid her paws on the door. "Val, awesome pirate sisters ferever!"

There was a sharp gasp, before the door was flung open, and Romsca found herself caught in a vice-like hug. "Romsca, Romsca it's ya! How can it be ya? Thank the fates .. does Ublaz know yer here?"

"No." Romsca extracted herself from Val's grip, shutting the door. "An' I wanna keep it that way."

In the softly moonlit cabin, she could see her friend's eyes were red and the fur around them was damp and smudged from crying and rubbing tears away. "What'd that filth do ta ya? Are ya ok?"

"I .. I'm ok." Val rubbed at her eyes, before cocking her head. "Wait .. what's with yer face? Yer filthy."

"I rubbed soot on it and I fell inta some mud." Romsca shrugged. "But that's not important .. what happened ta Xzaris, do ya know?"

Val swallowed hard, whimpering, "I was there … but .. do I really gotta tell ya?"

Romsca's gaze was intense. "Yes ya really gotta tell me, this is our friend."

"Oh Romsca .. I .. I tried .." Val's voice was a choke. "I tried ta pertect him like ya said .. tried so hard .. but .. Ublaz .. he .."

Romsca grabbed the vixen. "Well? Did he kill him? What happened?"

"H .. he clawed his eyes out!" Val wailed suddenly, and Romsca slowly took a step back as a paw flew to her mouth.

Val sniffed. "I .. I had ta watch .. oh I'm sorry Romsca! I'm sorry!"

Romsca's eyes were closed, but she suddenly open them again, voice a guttural growl from deep within her throat. "It ain't yer fault .. but there's one beast I wanna skin alive right now! Ublaz! I'd like ta rip him apart! Ta kill me friend .. an' like that!"

"Wull ... wull I donno if he's quite dead yet." Val sniffed. "B .. but yea, he's gonna be."

Romsca's eyes shone with unquenchable fire. "What? What do ya mean?"

Val shivered. "Ublaz didn't kill him .. ordered he be thrown in the palace dungeons so if'n he lived .. he could be bait fer ya an' Conza!"

"Ya mean he ain't dead?" Romsca gasped.

"Not .. yet, I don't think." Val rubbed her muzzle.

Romsca stood stock still, thinking, and Val shook her head. "Oh .. oh no Romsca, ya can't save him. His face was jist torn apart .. there was blood everywhere ... I couldn't a healed him, an' neither can ya."

Romsca open her mouth to say something, but there was a sudden knocking on the door. The two froze, before Val shoved Romsca in the direction of some shelving, hissing, "Hide inna shadows, I'll git ridda them, whoever they is!"

Romsca stumbled into the dark shadows, wrapping her cloak tightly about her as she heard the door creak open slightly. "Yea? Who is it?"

"P .. please .. captain Valentine? I .. I have a message for you." The voice was shaky and youthful.

"That's Val ta ya, an' how do I know ya ain't some sorta spy, yer a ratguard. Where's yer patrol?"

Romsca could imagine Val sticking her muzzle a few inches from the other beast's face with a snarling expression.

"N .. no, it's from captain X .. Xzaris, and I've got to go back quickly .. he just really wanted m .. me to give this to you. It's .. for captain Romsca .. but we .. both know she went down at sea .."

Val sounded suspicious. "Weeell .. ok, ya better come in here."

There was some scuffling, and the sound of the door shutting. "Ok, gimme it."

Romsca turned her head, to see a scrawny little rat hand Val a scroll of paper, before stammering, "Pl .. please, I've got to get back to my post."

"Wait a minute, is Xzaris alive?" Val demanded.

"I .. think so, he was when I left .. but he won't last the night I fear. I .. wish you really could give it to Romsca .. "

Romsca could stand no more, and rational thought fled from her. She jumped out, cloak swinging behind her. "She can."

The ratguard started, stumbling back into a chair and toppling onto his back. He scramble away, gasping, "C .. c .. captain .. Romsca? B .. but .. but you .. you're .. you're dead!"

A sudden thought sprang into her mind, it was pure madness, but she had to do it. "That's right, I am."

Val stared at her. "Really?"

"Yea, ya wondered why ya found that wreckage? Me ship did go down, an' I'm a ghost."

"Whoa ..." Val was clearly impressed. "Seriously? Like .. I could stick me paw through ya an' ya can float through walls an' ..."

Romsca desperately wanted to tell Val to shut up, but she simply blurted, "An' I can save Xzaris an' that's all that matters!"

The guard was considerably less fascinated than Val, in fact, he looked petrified. "W .. wh .. what do you want with m .. me?"

It felt wrong to deceive him and cause him this much fear, but Romsca was desperate. "Ya will take me ta Xzaris."

"Y .. you mean t .. take you into the .. the palace? B .. but .. I can't! I just wanted to help a little .. I don't want .. a .. any part in rebellion!"

Val blinked, before flicking an ear. "But ya can't like bein' a ratguard! Not if'n ya'd risk it just ta bring a dyin' beast's message ta me."

He shivered. "O .. of course I don't .. I .. I hate it .. but I just felt bad .. I don't want to go against Ublaz! G .. general .. she'll .. kill me! Torture me! I can't!"

Romsca's eyes flashed. "Doin' the right thing is always hard .. I should know. But it don't give us the right ta look away."

He looked down, before whimpering, "I .. I can't. G .. General will .. have my head!"

Romsca growled, desperation taking over again. "She might if we get caught. But if ya don't help, I'll have yer soul past yer dyin' day! Do ya really want me ta haunt ya before an' after the grave?"

"Golly, that's rough." Val remarked, nodding to the rat. "From experience, ya don't want the live Romsca mad at ya. The dead one's gotta be like .. a million times worse. By the way Rom ... Ya wouldn't be mad bout that one time I painted yer nails while ya was sleepin'? Ya know .. as a friend?"

"Oh ferget that Val!" Romsca couldn't believe her friend's multi-tasking mind; everywhere at once. "Go tell me uncle what I'm doin'."

Val nodded. "Sure .. what's ya doin' exactly?"

"I'm gonna go inta Ublaz'z dungeons an' save Xzaris's life!" She snarled, before adding, "Cause ghosts can do that. An' this liddle rat's gonna make me look official-like."

"Oh .. uh .. I really gotta tell him that? Does he know yer a ghost?" Val didn't look excited.

"Hellgates, just tell him!" Romsca growled.

She grabbed the ratguard, ordering, "Ya will escort me inta the palace as a prisoner."

"D … do I .. r .. really have to?"

"Yes, let's move!" Romsca was about through with whatever pretense of patience she'd had.

He suddenly moved forward, eyes flicking from side to side nervously. "Th .. then I kn .. know a better way."

The journey to the palace was essentially uneventful; the ratguard seemed to know pretty well how to avoid everyone. He stopped in the looming shadows of the palace, leading her into a dark, overgrown garden.

Romsca pinned her ears, asking, "Where're ya takin' me, what is this?"

As an answer, he disappeared into a thick stand of bamboo. "Through here."

She gathered her cloak in one arm and followed him carefully, pushing through the wild stalks until she came into a dark hole. Romsca's eyes slowly adjusted to the nearly pitch-black darkness as the ratguard picked up something. There was a clack and a sudden spark, before a flame leapt up. He held the torch gingerly, illuminating the tunnel they stood in.

Romsca stared at something she'd never known existed, as her companion led her deeper into it. Ancient carvings and words decorated the walls, in a language she could not read. Roots snaked through the expertly fitted stones, and the place smelled damp and old.

"Where does it go?" The ferret asked at length.

"Shh." The ratguard shook his head. "Qu .. quiet now. We're close ... have I really got to do this?"

Romsca glared at him. "What if it was yer friend dyin'? What'd ya do?"

"I .. I don't have any friends."

Romsca's ears drooped a little out of pity, but she knew she could not give herself away, not now. "Is a guard ever supposed ta abandon a fellow guard? Even when there ain't no hope left?"

Something flashed in his deep brown eyes, and he straightened up. "Never captain."

"That's what a friend does too. Now take me in there."

He swallowed, before nodding, "O .. ok. But you're going to have to let me chain you."

"Ya better not play me false." Romsca held out her paw, trying to quell the apprehension as she realized how stupid this really was. "Do it."

The manacle clamped onto her wrist, cold and foreign, but she held on to the comfort she could probably throw the scrawny ratguard over her head with minimal difficulty. "Y .. you can't take any .. weapons in."

Romsca glared at him. "If ya think I'm buyin' that yer a fool .. but I'll leave me axe here."

She slowly set it down and the ratguard closed the other manacle on his own wrist, and laid his free paw on a stone set in the side of the tunnel right where it abruptly ended. There was a scraping, and with a slight push, the dead end pivoted inward .. into the palace, and all its evil.

The ratguard looked frightened, and he whispered, "Can you .. walk twisted over like an old beast? Y .. you walk too much like a captain."

Romsca slowly did as he said, following him down the dark corridor. Now that she was in .. truly in the palace, misgivings and fears beset her. Would this really work?

Sayna had said so ... and she really had no reason not to trust the mouse. Aside from the fact she was a mouse .. but no, no, she must stop thinking like that. It wasn't right, and it wasn't true. Besides .. this had to work. Failure wasn't an option.

The corridors here twisted and turned, but the ratguard seemed to know where he was going. He also didn't like being chained to her, from the way he hurried and kept his ears pinned. She couldn't blame him, not after the way she'd got him to cooperate.

He slowed as they entered another corridor, and Romsca tensed as she saw another ratguard, and older one. This beast looked curious. "Hoi, Shilo, what's ya got there?"

"J .. just transferring a prisoner t .. to another cell sir."

Romsca wondered what the creature's response would be, but he just laughed. "Ya don't gotta sir me, Shilo. Ya know I don't se ya like that."

A tiny, nervous smile appeared on Shilo's face. "Th .. thanks Rum .. w .. well I have to get this prisoner to their .. c .. cell."

"Alrighty .. say, ya wanna drink afterward? I sneaked some in .. don't tell general."

"S .. sorry Rum, I have to watch the other prisoner all night since I left my patrol earlier." The older rat shook his head. "Aw, ta bad matey. It's that niceness a yers that'll get ya in trouble someday. Course, it's also what I like 'bout ya."

He opened the door, and Romsca followed the ratguard, apparently Shilo, into another corridor, one full of cells, most of them empty. Ublaz seldom kept prisoners long, perhaps a week or so, but never indefinitely.

Their paws made soft clacks on the stone floor, and Shilo stopped beside one of the cells, setting his torch in a bracket nearby. The hall was empty and shrouded in dark shadows; only one other lantern offered light.

The ratguard pulled out a key, looking around, before unlocking her shackle. "B .. be quiet. There's another guard on the other side of this corridor."

Romsca nodded dumbly, as he slid the heavy bolt aside. "H .. he's in an awful state .. let me tell him f .. first."

The cell was dark, but Romsca could smell blood, and worse, the faint scent of death. Was she already too late .. was all this in vain?

"C .. captain? It's me, Shilo .."

There wasn't an answer right away, but the ratguard continued. "C .. can you hear me?"

The voice that replied was distorted, so agonized it didn't even sound like Xzaris. "Did .. ya .."

"I .. I did, and I found somebeast .."

Romsca shoved him aside, dropping to her knees as her eyes grew used to the shadows. She had seen blood and death; that was not what brought nausea to her. It was the horrific wounds Xzaris had sustained; one look at his face was more than enough. "Xzaris .. Xzaris .. how could he .."

But she knew it should not surprise her. She frantically reached for her hair, tightly braided by Sayna, as he stirred fractionally, his voice an uncharacteristic whimper of pain. "Romsca? How .. kin ya .. be here?"

"Don't talk, just hang on!" Her voice was a snarl as she struggled to get her hair undone. "Ya! Ratguard, undo me hair .. now!"

The rat was hesitant, but he slowly reached out and started tugging the hair tie out.

Romsca gripped Xzaris's paw tightly, growling, "Don't ya dare die on me, not now!"

He muttered something, but all it amounted to was a groan. At that second, her braid unwound as Shilo's efforts were successful, and the black hair spilled around her. She grabbed a fairly thick clump, sliding a paw under Xzaris's head and lifting it as gently as she could in her haste.

The wounded ferret's paw clenched, and Romsca knew she must be hurting him as she swiftly wound the hair around his head, setting him back down softly, and reaching for the knife in her boot. Her hair pulled tight, and she grabbed the hilt, drawing it.

Shilo was looking nervous, still standing nearby, and Romsca met his gaze with intensity. "I'm gonna die fer awhile, see? But do not leave me here, do ya hear me? Cause I'll come back ta life .. ghosts can do that, got it?"

He shivered, nodding hurriedly. "R .. r .. right .. I .. won't .."

Romsca cast a glance at the gleaming blade in her paw, before clenching her teeth and slicing it through the lock of hair.

The world seemed to freeze for several seconds, before pain lanced through her entire being, and she felt herself crumple to the straw of the cell, unable to shriek, but desiring to. She couldn't move .. couldn't breathe .. then the cold hit her like a crashing wave, freezing her senses.

=Next=

"Ye really want me to trust her? Do ye really think we can do that? What if she does something crazy .. what if she .."

Barranca interrupted Arashi. "Yes, I really do. She won't do anything .. too insane. She can have a lot of tact when she puts her mind to it."

"What if she didn't this time?" Arashi countered.

Durral and Sayna hadn't moved from the couch, in fact Sayna didn't even look like she was properly awake.

"There's nothing we can do, will you stop it Arashi? I have to trust she will come back in her own time; I'm as worried as you, but even if I wandered the streets all night, I probably wouldn't find her." Barranca sighed. "Now will you stop pacing?"

Arashi growled threateningly, but slowly sat down in an empty chair. "She'd best come back alive."

Barranca didn't reply, and silence filled the foyer for a few minutes. A sudden knocking rang out, and Arashi leapt to her feet, hope in her eyes. She yanked open the door, stopping at who she saw.

"Val?"

The fox nodded. "Yea. An' I wish ya didn't hide the key so well. Ya an' Romsca both do it different an' it's really confusin'. Sides, I've never had ta break inta yer manor afore Capt'n Barranca. An' ya made it Arashi .. great!"

"Ye .. seem positive." The ferret raised an eyebrow.

Val nodded. "I'm here ta deliver a message .. fer .. everybeast I guess. Hey, are they in on this?"

She pointed at Durral and Sayna, who had looked up. Barranca sighed. "Yes. They're Romsca's ... friends."

The vixen shut the door, nodding. "Ok. So Rom says everythin's fine, an' not ta worry. She's just breakin' inta the palace ta save Xzaris."

"What?" Arashi exclaimed.

"Yea, I felt that way too …" Val looked less sure of herself. "But Romsca's ship went down an' now she's a ghost. I think. I .. really hope she was tellin' the truth this time."

She winced. "Of course ... somehow it doesn't seem right .. but I jist can't see Rom doin' somethin' that dumb if there was no hope. An' trust me .. unless she's a ghost .. there .. really isn't a lot."

Durral looked confused. "Captain Romsca's ship didn't go down at all ... she docked it in a hidden bay and we rowed into the city in a lifeboat."

Val cocked her head. "Oh .. that does make sense."

She frowned. "But she jist went inta the palace dungeons ta save somebeast who's dyin' fer sure .. unless she had .. at least some sorta magic, she wouldn't risk that. All she'd do was .. drag a deadbeast out."

Val looked away. "I know she cares an' awful lot bout Xzaris .. but Rom cares 'bout us too. An' she wouldn't leave us like that .. she's too .. loyal fer that."

Arashi relaxed a little, until Sayna stood up. "She does have magic."

Everybeast looked at her with confusion except Durral, who looked moderately guilty. Val looked relieved. "Oh good ... she is a ghost then. Not quite what I wanted fer her an' all, but still cool .. an' since ghosts can vanish .. maybe she'll be ok!"

"She's not a ghost." Sayna looked irritated. "She's a Defender, and she bears the double-edged blessing and curse of the Flowers of Icetor."

Arashi was concerned, to say the least. "What do ye mean by that?"

"How fond is she of this Xzaris, and would there be a chance, dying or otherwise, that he would be alive? Because that is the answer, as long as he has a spark of life left in him, she can save him. She can save anybeast she chooses to." Sayna's black eyes narrowed. "But she has to be willing to die to do it."

"Are you saying she's dead?" Barranca started in his seat.

Sayna looked away. "Perhaps, for the moment. She will come back, she will always come back .. it's a never-ending cycle. She can die permanently .. but trust me when I say, death does not come easily to a Defender."

By this time, even Durral looked confused.

Sayna sighed. "Fine. Romsca was overdosed with a Flower of Icetor, just as I was long ago. It gives her the ability to be wounded in any manner, and as long as the injury is not instantly fatal, the Flower is so young within her she will not die even once. She is immune to sickness and age alike."

The mouse clenched her teeth. "It gives her the ability to heal any injury as long as the other beast is alive. If she cuts a strand of her hair .. but she will take their death upon her shoulders and die for them. She will remain in a strange sort of stasis, not breathing, but somehow not dead, and will return to life in thirty minutes at the least."

"And .. how do ye know this?" Arashi looked stunned, not sure what to believe.

"Because I've done it many times." Sayna flicked her ears back. "I can no longer. She is destined to take my place."

Nobeast answered, and Sayna sighed. "If you don't understand .. fine. But I don't think we should just leave her."

Arashi scowled. "Ye heard Barranca here. With those Monitors, he's right. We wouldn't stand a chance."

Sayna tossed a side of her cape away from herself, drawing her sword with a blue flash. "I can kill them."

=Next=

Romsca crumpled to the ground the instant she cut the hair, motionless, and Shilo took a step back. The thick black lock spun around Xzaris's face began to glow surreally, suddenly brightening, only to seep softly into his fur, and the hair itself faded to a shimmering gray that quietly disintegrated in a shower of silver.

The shorn end of hair on Romsca's head glowed faintly, before it grew in a matter of seconds, snaking across the straw in a shimmer of silver white. However she remained perfectly still, not even drawing breath.

Shilo scrambled back against the wall, swallowing hard. He'd had misgivings about the authenticity of her claims, but no longer. She truly was a ghost .. how else did her hair glow?

Xzaris's breathing had been faint and strained before, but now it was even and quiet. Shilo slipped out of the cell, drawing the bolt shut as he tried to wrap his mind about what he'd just seen.

He leaned against the outside wall, taking a few deep breaths.

There was a ghost in the cell behind him.

He shivered, closing his eyes for a moment. Compassion always seemed to backfire on him. A sudden thought came to him .. both Romsca and Xzaris were in the cell behind him .. if he told the General ... He clenched a paw. What was he thinking? If there was a way to be haunted forever, that was it. Besides, it wouldn't be like the General would throw a hero's welcome for him .. he'd be whipped for deserting his post, and more blood would spill.

The rat slowly wrapped his arms around himself, exhaling heavily. What a mess.

A few moments slipped by, before footsteps sounded in the corridor outside, and Shilo gasped. Of course the general would send somebeast to check up on him and see he wasn't sleeping. He grabbed his trident, standing up straight as the outer hall's door swung inward.

Shilo suddenly realized he was still holding the key to the chains he'd escorted Romsca in with, and dropped it, stomping his boot on top.

He froze as he saw who'd come to inspect his work .. the general herself, and two escorts. Sagitar's boots made hollow thuds on the stone floor as she stalked forward, eyes narrow. She stopped in front of him, and he did his best to stand straight and tall, though he really wanted to disappear into the floor.

"Well? What is your report?"

"N .. n .. nothing General. Nothing to report, all's been quiet."

"Really?" She did not look convinced. "Then what's that on your arm?"

Shilo looked at the manacle on his wrist, blinking. "O .. oh this? Th .. this is just .. well you see .. it was an interesting card game General."

She raised an eyebrow, and he sighed. "And .. I .. I lost. Th .. that was the forfeit .. stand guard with a chain on your wrist."

Sagitar gave him a long glare, before sneering. "Why am I not surprised? Is he still alive?"

Shilo cast a glance at the deeply shadowed cell, swallowing hard. "H .. he is, I think. N .. not too lively though."

"He shouldn't be." Sagitar looked through the bars as Xzaris stirred slightly, with a soft groan. She shrugged. "If he dies before morning, get a patrol to help you drag him out and throw him on the shore."

"R .. right. Yes General." Shilo hoped desperately she would just leave,

She narrowed her eyes, looking from side to side for a moment. "I can't see what's wrong here, but I swear ..."

The rat pointed a claw at Shilo. "See your watch is uneventful. So help me if something goes wrong and you make a fool of me .. I'll lash you myself, is that understood?"

"Y .. y .. yes .. G .. General .. I'll see too it." Shilo shuddered hopelessly.

Sagitar growled, turning on her heel and stalking away, her guards with her. Shilo waited a few moments after the outer door shut, before leaning heavily on his trident and shaking all over.

See his watch was uneventful? There was no way his watch could be uneventful!

He slowly leaned against the wall, holding his trident tightly, and choking back a sob. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no way this could end in his favor.

A sudden movement in the cell behind him caught his attention, and he leaned against the bars, looking in. He waited a few more minutes, before sliding the bolt and opening the door. "C .. captain Xzaris?"

The ferret stirred, trying to sit up. "Ugh .. where .. what happened?"

Shilo didn't answer out of amazement for a moment, and Xzaris groaned. "Is anybeast there?"

"I .. I .. I am captain."

Xzaris cocked his head, sniffing the air for a moment. "Shilo? Yer .. I'm still here? But I thought .. I was dead."

"Y .. you weren't. Aren't. You're .. alive. I think." Shilo gulped.

"Arg, is it dark in here? I can't see a blasted thing ..." He broke off, suddenly lifting a paw to his face. "I .. It doesn't hurt! The wounds .. it's like they ain't there .. I can't see .. but .. there .. jist ain't any explainin' it .. Shilo, what happened?"

The rat bit his lip. "W .. well do you remember me saying .. I found somebeast when I went to deliver your message?"

Xzaris tried to brush hair stiff with dried blood out of his face as he shook his head. "No .."

"W .. w .. well I did. I found a ghost see, the ghost of captain .. R .. Romsca." Shilo gulped. "And pl .. please be quiet!"

"Romsca?" Xzaris lowered his voice. "Ghost? What are ya talkin' bout, ya ain't makin' a bit a sense. Where's Romsca?"

Shilo scuffed a paw. "R .. right beside you."

Xzaris looked unconvinced for a moment, before reaching out. "But she's out at sea same as we all were .."

His paws came in contact with the motionless form crumpled next to him, and froze. "What ... Romsca?"

He pulled the cloak off, blindly finding her face and stroking it. "Romsca? Rom .. answer me! Please .. please answer me .."

She didn't stir, and Shilo raised a paw gingerly. "She .. w .. well .. I know it looks bad .. but actually, she's fine. I .. I think."

"What do ya mean she's fine?" Xzaris snarled. "She's dead! She's .. dead. How kin ya even say that?"

"C .. cause she's a ghost!" Shilo protested, voice a hiss. "And k .. keep it down! She's a ghost, and ghosts can do that."

Xzaris turned his head in the rat's direction, stammering, "What .. what do ya mean .. ya make no sense! Ghosts ain't real .. not really .. an' Romsca ain't a ghost!"

"A .. actually we found a lifeboat from her ship .. smashed on the shore after the storm .. y .. you arrived in. N .. now she reappeared .. and she has .. very .. gh .. ghostly properties. Sh .. she brought you back to life!" Shilo was serious.

Xzaris slowly put an arm under Romsca's shoulders, lifting her a little. "Tell me what really happened .. Ublaz .. killed her, didn't he?"

The ferret picked her up once he seemed to come to the realization she wasn't going to move.

Shilo shook his head. "N .. no, he doesn't know she's here. She made me take her in here .. and then .. she sort of .. killed herself."

"What?"

"N .. not really like that .. she wrapped her hair around you .. and cut it .. and just .. d .. died. It glowed and .. you .. got better. S .. see what I mean? Sh .. she is a ghost!"

Xzaris turned a glare blindly upon him. "How is that possible? Yer .. ya .. gotta be lyin' .. I can't .. even .."

Shilo held his paws out defensively. "I .. I know, I know! B .. but she .. really did! A .. and you don't have any more wounds, do you?"

"I .. don't. Not really .." Xzaris admitted. "But .. this .. can't be what it cost! It .. can't."

He hung his head, and Shilo looked at the dimly lit corridor outside. "L .. look .. we .. we've got to get out!"

Xzaris flattened his ears. "How? Nobeast escapes the palace!"

"Th .. the tunnel I brought captain Romsca through .. that'll take us out."

"Wait .. yer gonna tell me ya brought her here?" Xzaris groaned softly.

Shilo sighed. "Y .. yea that's what I said .. she made me!"

"But why would ya do something like that?" Xzaris pulled Romsca against him, whispering, "Ya ought'a know how crazy she is ..."

"Sh .. she said she was a ghost! She said she'd haunt me forever if I didn't!"

Xzaris glared at Shilo, growling, "She's a liar, she's been a habitual liar since we met! Don't ya know that .. ya can't trust her when she says stuff like that, she lies ta get what she wants!"

Shilo shook his head. "O .. oh no, sh .. she's a ghost. Y .. you didn't see .. her hair .."

"Will ya shut up, she ain't a ghost! Or at least she weren't .. Romsca, I donno how ya did it .. but it ain't worth yer life." He whispered the last bit to her, ignoring Shilo.

The rat looked around, shivering. "W .. well, we have to g .. get out of here .. and we can't leave her."

Xzaris growled. "Leave her? Over me dead body .. who knows what Ublaz'd do .. let her rot in the central square lika criminal or feed her ta the lizards? Not on yer life. But can we git out? This is the palace!"

Shilo sighed with relief. "N .. now you'll listen to me? I may not be the bravest ratguard .. but I am a ratguard, and I know a way out. The ancient escape tunnels."

"But those were all filled in a hundred seasons ago." Xzaris protested. "They were unstable, weren't they?"

"Y .. yea, most of them. But I found one that was either .. f .. forgotten or left open on purpose. If you'll do what I say .. I think I can get you out."

Xzaris flicked his ears back. "Look .. I donno why you've helped ta this extent, but what .."

"W .. what's in it for me? W .. well if I had known how much trouble one little act of kindness would bring ... I'd likely have refused. I .. I'd have been sorry, but still would have refused." Shilo groaned. "At this point captain Xzaris, I'm trapped. M .. my only hope is you. You and captain Romsca .. i .. if I did her a good turn here, maybe she'll use her ghostly abilities to .. k .. keep me alive."

He paused. "B .. but we're going to h .. have to get past the guard."

Xzaris sighed, and Shilo spoke again quickly. "H .. he's a drinker, and he's tipsy. W .. we've got to get through before his watch ends .. and we need a .."

He looked down at Romsca's cloak. "D .. disguise. I .. I know, you carry her while wearing the cloak .. walk hunched over .. j .. just like she did when I brought her in, and Rumgut won't know the difference."

"Carry her." Xzaris seemed uncertain. "How far'd I be doin' that?"

"T .. to captain Barranca's manor .. sh .. she told captain Valentine to tell him were she was going." Shilo picked up the cloak as Xzaris gently set Romsca down, shakily getting to his feet.

"I've gotta club foot, an' even with two good legs .." He broke off as he tested the immobile ankle, and started. "It .. it's fine .. good as the day I was born .. I don't unnerstand it!"

Shilo looked confused, and Xzaris sighed. "Even with two legs I donno if I can carry her that far. She's downright heavy .. an' bent over .. I don't think I can. There's gotta be another way."

Shilo thought for a moment, before shrugging. "I .. I don't know ... dragging her out in a sack would look suspicious."

"Ya ain't puttin' her inna sack." Xzaris gave him a dark look. "I don't care if she is dead, ya ain't. Maybe I could carry her on me shoulders."

"Y .. yea .. that's it! T .. then we put the cloak on you'll look like a hunchback .. th .. that might work, let's hurry!"

It took some work to get Romsca draped over Xzaris's shoulders, and Shilo helped to pull the cloak on over them. He surveyed the effect. "I .. I think that .. sh .. should work."

"Can ya please hurry?" Xzaris asked, his voice a little strained. "This ain't easy on me neck."

"R .. right." Shilo grabbed the dangling end of the chain around his wrist, clamping it over Xzaris's. "N .. now follow my lead."

He pushed open the cell door, leading Xzaris into the corridor. The ferret's voice was muffled. "I can't see a thing unner this hood."

"J .. just keep it over your face .. I .. I .. I'll see you won't run into anything, j .. just stay right behind me."

Shilo grabbed the chain close to Xzaris's wrist, holding his trident in the other paw. They slowly made their way toward the far end of the corridor, where the ratguard cautiously opened the door.

"Hoi, come ta have a drink after all?"

Shilo shook his head. "N .. not that I wouldn't l .. like to Rum ... b .. but I gotta put this prisoner back. G .. General ch .. changed her mind."

Rumgut shook his head. "S'never nice when the General changes her mind."

"Y .. you c .. can say that again." Shilo shivered. "I .. I .. I'd better hurry."

"Oh, right mate. Don't want ya on General's bad side .. there's only a few beast I'd wish that on an' I ain't sayin' any names." The guard shook his head.

Shilo nodded with a shiver, leading Xzaris away as quickly as he could without causing undue suspicion. He hurried down the twisting tunnels, stopping in front of a blank wall. Xzaris sniffed the air from under his hood, asking, "What're ya doin'?"

The rat pressed his paw on a stone set in the wall, then stuck his small claws into a crack and pulled a section of it outward. "C .. come on .. I just had to open it."

He led Xzaris in, then struggled to pull it shut with only one paw. The ferret fumbled to help him, grabbing the wall and pulling it shut with a scraping noise. He leaned against it for a moment, before Shilo muttered, "I .. I forgot a torch."

"I kin tell, it's pitch black in here."

"S ... sure is .. l .. look, I can't go back for a torch .. I think I can find the way out w .. without it."

Xzaris sighed. "I hope ya kin .. is it night?"

Shilo nodded in the darkness as he started down the tunnel. "A .. Aye."

"Which means the lizards'll be everywhere." Xzaris slowly grasped Romsca's limp paw, hanging against his chest. "There's no way we'll make it across the city."

Shilo didn't answer right away, and Xzaris pressed. "Tell me ya have a plan?"

"Th .. the lizards are .. t .. terribly powerful." The rat's vioce echoed hollowly in the darkness. "B .. but they are very d .. dull witted. Th .. that is our only advantage, and .. I .. I'm not sure how much it'll help us."

"Not stupid enough." Xzaris groaned. "They're dumb .. but they ain't that dumb, an' because they are, I swear it heightens their feral instincts."

"I .. I know. But it's our only hope."

Xzaris sighed. "We can't stay here."

Shilo paused, before leading the way along the tunnel again. "W .. we're nearly there. It .. it'll probably be almost two hours after sundown."

He stopped again, as the soft glow of moonlight flooded the tunnel. "Right here."

The two pushed through the thick bamboo, stepping into moonlit garden, turned shadowy and cold by the silver light. Xzaris pushed his hood up to see properly, before he looked around for Shilo. "Where are ya? Is it the new moon or somethin'? Nah, it couldn't be .. is it cloudy? I still can't see nothin'."

Shilo was staring at him blankly, before he stammered, "Y .. you can't .. s .. see? Y .. your eyes .. don't .. l .. look quite right .. to be honest."

"What'da ya mean, they don't look quite right?" Xzaris blinked hard, shaking his head.

"W .. well .. they're .. cloudy. A .. and covered in scars." Shilo winced. "I .. don't think .. wh .. whatever she did healed you completely."

He paused, quickly adding, "B .. but .. maybe it's healing .. sl .. slowly. W .. we can hope."

Xzaris didn't reply for a moment, before sighing, "Do ya know where me pike is?"

"N .. no idea." Shilo shrugged, drawing a dagger. "B .. but you can h .. have this."

The ferret took the knife, asking, "Where are we?"

"Th .. the palace gardens .. one of them. Th .. this one's pretty o .. overgrown." Shilo gripped the chain again. "F .. follow me."

Their footsteps were soft in the quiet, misty night, and both were alert; Xzaris was sniffing the air constantly. The garden was tucked near the palace foundations, but soon they were out on the open streets again, and Shilo was in a terrible hurry. "I .. I'm not sure .. h .. how much time has p .. passed .. so I don't know .. q .. quite where the patrols will be. An .. and we can't be caught on the main streets .. w .. we'll be instantly suspicious."

He turned onto a small side street, leading Xzaris as quickly as he could. The streets were all but empty at this hour, as any wise beast had locked themselves in their houses. They made it a good ways without trouble, thanks to Shilo's guesses at when the patrols would be where, and all in all, the city seemed to be lacking in Monitors.

Xzaris paused at the dark corner of street, muttering, "Shilo, I gotta set her down a moment .. I can't do it anymore, me neck feels like it's fit ta break."

The small ratguard sighed. "I .. I guess. But c .. can you just carry her then? C .. cause we gotta keep moving .. wh .. when do you think she'll wake up again?"

Xzaris scowled darkly at him, sightless eyes hollow. "Idiot. I donno what happened ta save me, I donno how she did it, but however it worked, it killed her."

He yanked the cloak off, and Romsca practically fell to the ground, stopped only by his paws.

She was entirely limp, with no power to move, not even to breathe. Xzaris picked her up with some difficulty. "I donno why she did it or what she thought'd happen, but she's dead, an' fer nothin'."

His voice broke a little. "Nothin' at all."

Shilo reached to pick up the cloak, but the chain pulled tight, and he paused. "I .. I don't think we really .. n .. need this."

He dug in the small satchel on his belt, a frown growing on his face, until he clapped his free paw to his forehead. "O .. oh no .. I didn't .. I didn't leave it in the hallway .. d .. did I?"

"Did ya?" Xzaris asked.

"W .. well General .. almost caught us .. and I had to hide it .." Shilo groaned. "I .. if any Monitors see us .. w .. wer're dead. W .. we won't even have a chance."

Xzaris didn't say anything for a moment, then asked, "How close is Barranca's manor?"

"I .. I'm not sure yet .. let's k .. keep going."

He stepped around the corner cautiously, but froze the next second at the sight of two Monitors slinking down the street. They saw him in the instant, and hissed, unfolding their frills, slinking forward.

Shilo backed away, the chain between him and Xzaris pulling tight as one of the creatures dashed forward, dealing the little rat a blow that sent him reeling into the wall of a nearby house like he weighed nothing.

Xzaris was yanked to the ground on top of Romsca as Shilo slammed into the wall with a little squeak, crumpling in a heap. Xzaris flattened his ears, clenching the hilt of the dagger tightly as he attempted to guess where the lizards were.

Shilo weakly lifted his head as the Monitor pounced on him, opening vice-like jaws with a hiss of triumph. There was a sudden swish of air being sliced; a flash of blue, and the next second the lizard crumpled to the side, headless.

Sayna stood over the young rat, pointing her sword at the remaining Monitor, which blinked at her, before taking several hasty steps back, hissing fearfully.

A shadow separated from those across the small side street and darted forward, double blades slashing at the back of the creature's neck. They were deflected, and Arashi leapt back as the lizard turned its head, snapping at her. Barranca bolted out of his cover at that moment, thrusting his saber into the Monitor's underbelly.

He ripped his weapon free the next second, darting back to escape the lizard's death struggle, and it's claws caught his leg, ripping into it. The stoat stumbled to the ground as Arashi sliced one of her katanas into the wound Barranca had inflicted, and the lizard fell still.

Sayna leaned on her sword, legs shaking a little. "We've .. got to dispose of the evidence."

"Are you alright?" Barranca got to his feet slowly.

The mouse sighed. "Yes. Are you? It was you who was injured."

"I'll .. be fine." Barranca winced, holding his bleeding leg off the ground.

Xzaris flicked an ear, sniffing the air for a second, before asking, "Capt'n Barranca? Who's there?"

Sayna took one look at him and Romsca, before sighing, "She cut too much hair, didn't she?"

Arashi hurried to her side, staring. Sayna was more disgusted than anything. "The little idiot. I thought I told her a thin lock .. she just healed him about five times over with what she cut. Oh .. I suppose I wasn't very clear."

"Is .. that Romsca? Is she .. dead?" Arashi sounded like she was bordering on being distraught.

Sayna sighed. "Yes, and yes .. now we need ..

Arashi grabbed the mouse, yanking her feet off the ground. "Yes? What do ye mean, yes?"

"I explained it to you, didn't I?" Sayna looked unimpressed, boots dangling a few inches above the ground. "A word to the wise suffices, now please put me down."

Arashi slowly set her down, as Barranca broke in. "She's .. dead?"

Sayna scowled. "Are we going to stand in the street gawking over the obvious facts until more Monitors smell the fresh blood of these and come overpower us, or are we going to dispose of the evidence and get to the manor? Given the proper amount of time, she's going to wake up, but if she's eaten by lizards I assure you she won't."

Nobeast moved for a moment, before Barranca laid a paw on Arashi's shoulder. "Mouse, you're crazy. But you're right to some extent. We need to get back."

He led Arashi away, sighing, "We'll deal with the Monitors."

Sayna nodded, slowly kneeling beside the rat. She pulled his helmet off, holding a paw over his muzzle for a moment, before smiling softly. "You will be alright."

She looked over at the gray ferret he was chained to, stating, "I assume you are Xzaris?"

He nodded silently, and something in his eyes made hers soften. "She will come back to you."

"She was never mine." His voice was flat. "She was hers. Always has been."

Sayna smirked slightly. "I know that. But she will come back, none the less."

He was silent a moment, before he muttered, "I donno who ya is .. I can't even see ya, but death ain't reversible, an' any fool who's lived a week kin tell ya that. Is there any way ta unchain me?"

Sayna stood up, raising her sword, before slicing down with it, snapping the chain in half with a clink. She sheathed the weapon, sighing, "Yes. I'll carry the young rat .. that is .. if he is a friend."

Xzaris sat up, nodding, "Aye. He is."

Barranca and Arashi returned, and the stoat pointed at Shilo. "Who is that? That's a ratguard, should we kill him here?"

"No!" Xzaris protested. "He .. helped us."

Barranca looked suspicious, but nodded. "Fine. He doesn't look like he'd be much of a problem if he turned out wrong."

Sayna struggled to lift him, but Barranca pushed her away. "You keep that sword of yours ready, we may well need it. Hurry, everybeast."

The stoat tossed Shilo over one shoulder effortlessly as Xzaris struggled to lift Romsca again. Arashi laid a paw on his arm, stopping him. "I'll help ye."

Sayna laid a paw on her sword hilt, before drawing it, the blade glowing faintly. "This will light the way. We must get back to the foxmaid and Durral, before worse happens."

They moved at as fast a pace as they were able, Barranca saw to that. He was more nervous than he'd openly showed in seasons. Arashi didn't speak a word or show emotion whatsoever. Sayna just focused on the task at paw.

It took longer than anybeast liked, but they reached the manor without incident. As they walked through the manor gates, Sayna sheathed her blade. "Honestly, I expected more resistance."

"So did I." Barranca seemed disturbed as he locked the gates. "It makes me wonder where they all are. We normally should have met ten or more just in doing that."

Xzaris tripped on the stairs leading up to the porch, and Barranca scooped Romsca out of his paws, handing the rat to Arashi. "I'll take her."

Xzaris carefully got to his paws, and Sayna laid a paw on his arm, "I'll help you."

He nodded dumbly, as she asked, "You're completely blind?"

"Seems so." Xzaris scowled, before he turned a sightless gaze to the ground. "Why did she do it? She .. saved nothin'. I'd wouldn't a been worth it before .. now I can't do anythin' .. Ublaz was right. He did make me worthless. Why .. would she do somethin' like this?"

"Why?" Sayna smiled. "I find it interesting you continue to ask 'why' and not fret on 'how'. Do you really want me to answer that question, or do you want to answer it yourself?"

"How kin I? Romsca .. will always be somewhat of a mystery. But this .."

Sayna shrugged. "It's not obvious to you? The gift of the Flower is not something easily given away, only one in a million is lucky enough to receive life at the cost of another. Do not take it for granted and wish the honor away, it is an insult to her .. she literally risked everything to save you, herself, and all of us too."

Xzaris shook his head. "I know .. an' fer nothin'."

"She must not think so." Sayna's eyes hardened. "If you talk like that when she wakes up, expect her to be out of sorts."

"What is with ya? First Shilo, an' now ya too?" He stumbled through the doorway, scowling, "Leave me alone."

Barranca gently set Romsca down on a nearby couch, before turning to Sayna. "Mouse, she's dead. She won't wake up."

"I tell you she will!" Sayna clenched a paw. "And whatever you do, don't bury her!"

Val came out of the kitchen, announcing, "The Abbotmouse wanted ta make supper capt'n Barranca, so I let him. Did ya find … Romsca .."

She broke off as she saw the one she spoke of. "Romsca! What happened? Is she .. but she said .."

Val pointed an accusing paw at Sayna. "But ya said .. ya said she wouldn't die! How can she be dead .. me .. me sister."

The fox backed against a wall, "Just .. like .. all the others .."

A glittering tear coursed down her cheek, before she clenched her teeth in sorrow. "Why .. does it have ta happen? Why?"

Barranca was looking unwell, and he suddenly scowled. "You woodlanders are a curse I swear! Do you want to bring more death upon us than there already is?"

"We had nothing to do with .." Sayna protested.

The stoat clenched a paw, before loosening it and interrupting. "I'm getting a drink."

Arashi had stood stock still after depositing Shilo in a chair, but now she followed him. "I think .. I'll have one too."

Xzaris stumbled against a table, knocking an empty vase to the floor, where the glass shattered into a million bits. Shilo murmured, blinking his eyes open at this disturbance, and looked around in bewilderment. "Where .. am I .. I .. thought the Monitors .."

He broke off as he noticed Sayna. "Wh .. who are you? Wh .. what happened?"

Sayna shrugged. "The lizards must have knocked you unconscious, and if you ask me, you're lucky it wasn't worse. My name is Sayna .. I'm just a .. friend of Romsca's, I guess."

Shilo rubbed his head, before relaxing against the back of the chair. "Ugh .. th .. this headache ... Where's c .. captain Xzaris .. he didn't get .. eaten, did he?"

"I'm right here." Xzaris nearly tripped over a stool near the couch Romsca was lying on, but steadied himself and carefully sat on it.

"W .. well what about Romsca? I .. Is she ok?"

Xzaris pinned his ears, growling, "Does she look ok?"

Shilo shook his head, then winced from doing so. "N .. not really .. but I know she'll come back .. she's a ghost. I .. I .. s .. saw her hair. It gl .. glows, and only ghosts c .. can glow."

"Will ya all jist have the decency ta shut up?" Xzaris groaned. "She's dead! She can't come back .. what kinda infants are ya? She .. she's gone. I'll .. never get ta see her again .. even if she was alive I'd never see her again .. so will ya jist stop with the nonsense?"

Shilo opened his mouth to speak, but Sayna held out a paw. "No, do as he wishes. Rest more if you need it. I will stand guard. Miss?"

Val looked up, and Sayna nodded. "Supper is fine, but we need a plan of action. Can you please try and get the others to realize it?"

"Why don't ya talk ta them yerself?" Val sniffed.

"I get the feeling they don't like me very much at the moment. Please. Do you want to be caught here? We need a plan of escape or remaining undercover." Sayna's black eyes glittered, before she walked out the front door, shutting it.

Val slowly stood, before walking down the hallway toward the kitchen, and Shilo stood shakily. "Th .. they don't like .. r .. ratguards much .. d .. do they?"

Xzaris turned a sightless glare upon him, sighing, "Yer in capt'n Barranca's manor, what'da ya really think?"

"C .. captain Barranca .. of .. th .. the Dragons?" Shilo paused. "I .. I think I'm going to .. go st .. stand guard with .. with her."

He limped toward the door, hurrying out and shutting it behind him. Xzaris hung his head, rubbing a paw across his nose.

Silence filled the manor, broken only by an occasional soft stray noise from the kitchen. The ferret sighed heavily, finally allowing himself to think. Slowly, tears grew in his eyes, real, wet tears; something he'd figured was as lost as his sight was.

He found Romsc's paw, slowly picking it up and muttering, "What'd ya do? Ya've done a lotta stupid things .. but this tops it all."

She didn't respond, naturally, and he would never have been this open with her if she could of. "I wish .. I coulda had the guts ta tell ya the truth .. but I never could. But fer what it's worth .. I did. I love ya .. I never said .. cause ya never wanted that. But I was proud ta be yer friend .. yer fellow capt'n. I donno why ya chose me, those seasons ago. But ya did .. an' now .. now this. I just wish .. I'd get a chance to ask ya."

Her paw was as cold as death itself, and he tightened his grip. "I never will. Lord of the heavens .. Ignasa .. I asked ya a favor before .. I hardly dare ask again. But please .. give her back .. let her live again, me life ain't worth hers."

"And why do you think she amounts to so much more than you?"

The thought ran through his mind, and he was startled by it. Had he truly thought it?

"I ask, why?"

No, it was not him, it was a question. Xzaris sighed, murmuring, "Look at her family, her strength, her wealth .. I could be jealous .. but I feel inferior. I'm common dirt in comparison."

"Then why aren't you jealous?"

"Deep down .. maybe I am." He hung his head. "I wanted ta be just good as her before I told the truth. I .. wanted ta prove somethin', I guess. I wanted ta give her somethin' instead a it always bein' the other way around."

Silence filled his thoughts once more, and he clenched his teeth. This .. was goodbye? How it ended?

In truth, he was numb. Of all the ways he'd thought these disasters might play out, it was not like this.

"It may be stupid an' sentimental .. but I want ya back Rom. Ya was me first real friend, an' while we'd scrap an' argue sometimes .. ya never left. I want ta hear ya again .. see ya again .. why is this how it ends?"

He fell silent, and the silence was empty .. and he didn't want it to end. Once it ended, time would have to move on, and more than anything, Xzaris wanted time to stop.

He gently set Romsca's paw down, before burying he face in his own. There was nothing left. Moments passed as he clenched his teeth in sorrow. He'd known well that the day they all left Sampetra might be the last time he saw any of his friends, and it was all too true.

The next second his froze, every fiber of his body tense. For the silence was broken by a groan, then a sharp intake of breath .. he'd have given anything to see, and his voice trembled soflty, "Ro .. Romsca?"

She moaned, before muttering, "Did .. it work?"

Xzaris didn't think about his next actions, clumsily grabbing her in a vice-like hug. His claws sifted through her hair as he did this, and for the first time, he realized how long it truly was.

"Xzaris ..." Her voice was still a mumble, though questioning.

She was limp, and while she could speak, it didn't seem like she could move. Xzaris's voice trembled a little. "Is .. is ya alright?"

Her words slurred together the slightest bit. "I .. can't even move me claws ... an' .."

She paused, asking in her drowsy sounding tone, "Are .. ya holdin' me, or is this ... some weird dream?"

Xzaris felt warmth creep across his cheeks, and he slowly laid her back down. Romsca let out a sigh. "Yer .. alright though. Thank .. Ignasa."

"I ain't." He muttered.

"What?"

"I ain't alright .. ya almost died. No .. ya did. Romsca .. how could ya?"

Her voice was weakly sarcastic. "It was ya or me. Since I can die an' come back ... logically it was me that had ta do it."

"Ya terrified me!" Xzaris hissed crossly. "An' what do ya mean .. die an' come back?"

"I .. can do that." She sounded tired and faint, something foreign to her. "It's .. a long story, an' .. I don't really feel up ta tellin' it at the moment. I'm glad yer alive matey."

Xzaris froze as she laid her paw on his. He caught hold of it before it could slip off again, sighing heavily. "What'll I do with ya anyway? Now ya have some sorta magic powers?"

"Actually, I'm dead .. an' alive at the same time .. Sayna says I'm cursed." There was a pause, and her paw went limp as she mumbled, "Yer a real mess .. yer hair's everywhere, how can ya see?"

The feeling of joy faded away, and Xzaris closed his eyes. "I .. I can't."

"Wull get yer bangs outa yer face." She was joking dryly, but there was nothing amusing about it.

"Nah .. Rom ... I ain't gonna see nothin' again. Ublaz made sure a that."

Now she sounded confused, and her paw twitched in his. "But me hair's .. supposed ta heal any wound. Yer sayin' yer blind .. that can't be right."

Xzaris swept his hair away to reveal his ravished features, and Romsca's paw clenched spontaneously. "That .. demon .."

Her voice held an element of passion he only heard in it when she spoke of her father's death or honoring him, and it felt odd to know she had this much feeling for his state. But then, it could be just another thing she was adding to her list to despise Ublaz for.

"He .. can't have done this ta ya! Ya .. never deserved .. any a this .. Xzaris, why couldn't ya have found those stupid pearls instead? Ya was always so much better'n me as a creature .. I .. I thought I could save ya, alla ya."

Despite the loss and the fear of the future, warmth washed over him for a few seconds. She did care. "Rom .. I told ya when this started I hoped ya'd find those pearls, didn't I?"

"Yea but .."

He fumblingly laid a paw on her cheek, trying to recall her features perfectly through his claws. "I donno what ta do now, I'm jist what Kia always said .. worthless. But I did mean what I said. Looks like neither one a us got 'em, but yer alive. An' that's what I really meant."

Her face moved slightly beneath his paw, but he wasn't sure if it was in a smile or a frown. "Xzaris .. why would ya value me life over yers?"

Tell her, just tell her ...

He sighed, but all that came out was, "Why'd ya? Ya proved the same."

"I .. I ain't that noble." Her voice fell a little. "I had the power ta save ya, but if I hadn't .."

"Ya went ta all lengths ta keep me in the land a the livin' .. I donno how, but ya did." Xzaris protested. "Don't lie ta me, not this time. Please .. I wanna tell the truth fer once."

She spoke after a few minutes. "Yea. I've lived a lie too long."

He felt a surge of hope, but she wasn't quite understanding his meaning. "I can't be a pirate no more Xzaris, an' none a us can. Killin' beasts is wrong .. woodlanders ain't any different from us .. I mean .. yea, they is, but if anythin' they're better'n us. But I'm tired a servin' me father's murderer, an' I'm tired a bein' ruled by fear. It ain't what I'm meant ta do in life, an' it ain't yer destiny either. Tell me ya agree with me .. please?"

The gray ferret didn't move for a few seconds, before stroking her face gently, "Rom .. what's with ya? Is ya ok?"

"Yea .. a lot has happened mate, but tell me .. tell me ya don't like hurtin' others at least."

He could almost feel her passion radiate through him .. a spark of true vigor for life. Before she had been depressed, teetering on the edge of hopelessness, but now .. the change was wonderfully evident. It brought him hope, and he removed the paw from her cheek, rubbing it across his eyes.

"No. But ain't that a pirate's life?"

"It don't gotta be. Sampetra weren't always pirates .. if you look in me satchel, there's a book .. from Holt Lutra. It claims we was once their allies!"

If Xzaris had possessed the power to stare, he'd have put it to use. This new Romsca .. was she even his Romsca? The girl he had played with as a child and come to love as an adult .. was it really her? But this vigor wasn't new, he realized. It was what had been erased years ago.

"What happened ta ya?"

From the strength that was returning to her voice, he could imagine the shine in her determined eyes. He desperately wished to look into them, just one last time, but it would never happen.

"Xzaris. I don't want ya ta freak out, but I follow Lord Ignasa. He .. saved me .. in more ways than one. Lask ... ripped me apart, but Ignasa put me back together .. inside an' out."

Her paw clenched around his, as her voice dropped a little. "I .. just hope you'll fight beside me in this."

A crooked smile ran across Xzaris's face, and he tightened his grip. "I pray I'll always fight beside ya. I .. I spoke ta Ignasa too, an' I hoped ya'd understand the change. I donno how this could even work out, I'm helpless Romsca, but I know yer never gonna be that. An' I kin stand at yer side as long as I survive."

His face fell. "But who am I kiddin' Rom. I'm over. All I kin hope is ta encourage ya. If ya'd take the help of a worthless beast ... well, I'll be here."

"Ya ain't worthless Xzaris ..."

"Don't lie ta us, it jist makes it harder." Xzaris sighed deeply. "I'm glad ya ain't dead, an' I got somethin' ta tell ya .. don't ya dare die on me like that again, ok? Yer me dearest friend shipmate, an' even if the world hates ya, I'll always need ya."

She gripped his free paw in a silent gesture, but he understood she meant she was grateful. After a few moments, she asked, "How did ya know 'bout Ignasa?"

"Arashi told me .. she said nobeast was worthless, not ta him. An' I believed .. dyin' in prison. I sure was stubborn .. wonder what woulda happened if I'd listened when she'd told me."

Her paw suddenly gripped his shoulder. "Yer for him?"

"He saved me too." Xzaris couldn't help himself, and hugged her tightly. "He sent ya."

She didn't move for a second, before her arms wrapped around him in return. "Thank the elements ... I mean, thank Ignasa."

Blind or not, Xzaris allowed himself a grin that exposed his glittering fangs. Romsca let go, and he drew back as well, before she spoke again. "Who's Arashi anyway? I don't remember ya havin' nobeast on yer crew named that."

"She weren't on me crew, I found her on the Isle of wrecked ships."

Suddenly, Xzaris clenched Romsca's paw tightly. "Rom! I fergot all about it but ... Arashi is yer mother!"

"I .. what?" Her voice was gaining strength, though her movements were still sluggish. "Me mother is dead, Conva said ..."

"But he was wrong. She's alive .. an' .. actually pretty upset right now." Xzaris suddenly had the wish to go tell her, but the thought of making it down the hallway and to the kitchen was impossible. "She's .. in the kitchen .. can ya walk?"

There was a creaking and Romsca tried to sit up, but fell back down with a groan. "Mmph .. still weak .. but I think so."

The couch creaked again and the ferret's boots made thumps on the hard wood floor as she stood. She gasped the next moment, almost in pain, and before Xzaris could move she collapsed on top of him. The stool he was sitting on fell over backwards with a crash as he fell into the low table in the middle of the room, and Romsca slumped helplessly over him.

"On second thought .." She groaned, not trying to move. "Maybe not."

Xzaris rubbed the back of his head where it had hit the edge of the table. There was a tingling under his claws, and the pain vanished in the instant. "What ..."

Romsca gripped his shoulder, trying to get to her knees, but it was worthless, and she just collapsed again.

"Ugg .. I give up." Her voice was weak and disgusted.

Even as she said it, she fought to move, and Xzaris grabbed her. "Nah, stop it will ya? Whatever ya did ta save me hurt ya, an' ya can't spend energy like that yet."

She relaxed in his arms just as footsteps sounded in the hall, and Xzaris blushed, realizing what this whole situation might very well look like. The steps stopped still, and Romsca turned her head, muttering, "Val?"

For two seconds, there was silence. Then there was a shriek of, "Ghost!"

"Val, will ya shut it .. I ain't a ghost." Romsca's vioce was too faint to be heard over her friend's shock.

Xzaris broke in sharply. "Val, shut up!"

She did so on the instant, and Xzaris got the mental image of the vixen backed against the doorframe, paw on her katana hilt, unsure whether to scream again or not.

"I'm alright Val .. I ain't a ghost .." Romsca's energy had been spent on trying to stand, and now she seemed as weak as when she'd awoken.

"What's ..." Arashi's voice stopped instantly, and Xzaris mentally cursed not being able to see .. he didn't even know where she was, because he didn't know which way the door was.

However the next second there was a scuffling, and Arashi dropped to the floor beside him. "She's ... alive?"

"I told you she would be." The new voice added itself to the others, and Xzaris recognized it as the one who had tried to insist Romsca was fine earlier.

The ferret in question struggled to move again, mumbling, "I'm .. fine .. let me up Xzaris .."

"Not a chance matey." Xzaris got to his knees, lifting her back onto the couch. "Ya ain't movin' .. not fer a while anyway."

Somebeast walked by him, adding on to his statement. "Oh no, I said the moment we reached a relatively safe place you were going to rest, and by heaven you will, even if I have to tie you to that couch."

"Sayna .." Romsca muttered in what sounded like weak frustration. "We're in my uncle's manor .. right? We can't stay here!"

"You will stay here." Sayna was adamant. "At least until we have a plan. But I suppose you should be in on it."

=Next=

A few explanations later, everybeast was gathered in the main foyer around the low table. Only Xzaris and Sayna seemed relatively at ease around Romsca, all the others were reserved, for various reasons.

Barranca pulled out a map, spreading it out, and Sayna asked, "Did you come up with a plan already?"

"Not me as such." The stoat pointed at Val. "She has a crazy idea."

She tossed her red hair, protesting, "It's not that crazy!"

Arashi muttered something under her breath as Romsca asked, "Well, what is it?"

"Weeeell ... it kinda requires a backstory ta unnerstand. I .. know somebeast outside the wall."

"You what?" Several voices rang out at once, Romsca half sat up, and then collapsed on the couch again.

Val held up her paws. "I know ... it seems weird. But I swear it's true ... I helped someone, seasons ago, an' he said he'd help me."

"He?" Xzaris asked.

"Uhh .. yea. My friend." Val didn't seem excited to tell who it was.

Romsca pressed her. "What's his name .. do we know him?"

Val frowned. "No ... uh .. maybe. Sorta. Ya .. gotta keep an open mind 'bout this one. I know woodlanders is supposed ta be bad an' all, but he ... needed help .. my help."

"Woodlander?" Barranca broke in. "This is a woodlander?"

"Technically ... he's an otter."

Romsca gaped. "An .. otter? Ya .. helped an otter? Val ... Ublaz woulda murdered ya if'n he found out! Ya know how he hates them!"

"I know." Val snapped. "An' that's why I did it!"

Her eyes flashed. "Ublaz thinks he's got the right ta kill anybeast he wants ta. Like me little brother. An' this time .. he lost out ta an undersized vixen with red hair. Ha!"

"Ya have a point, I suppose." Romsca sighed. "I'd probably try the same thing."

Xzaris raised an eyebrow. "How long 'go was this?"

Val cast a glance at the ornamental rug on the floor. "Eight seasons ago."

"Wait." Romsca broke the silence. "Ya can't ... that's ... that's when dad was killed .. ya don't mean one'a those otters, do ya?"

"Uhh ... yea."

"Which one? They were all dead right?" Romsca laid a paw on her forehead. "They ... were my responsibility. Val, why didn't ya tell me?"

Val hugged her knees, laying her chin on them. "I .. I couldn't. Yer me awesome pirate sister. An' ya was one'a me first friends .. ya an Conza and Xzaris. I knew if I told ya .. an' Ublaz found out .. ya'd be killed. An' I didn't wanna blame myself fer somethin' like that."

She sighed. "It was hard keepin' it from everybeast, but .. I did. Til now."

There was silence, and Val grinned sheepishly. "On the bright side, we have an ally in the wilds."

Sayna spoke up. "Can you really trust him?"

"Well .. I think so." Val folded her paws together. "He doesn't like vermin ... kinda understandable, that, but we got along fine. He's me friend, an' he said he'd help me cause I helped him. After all .. we don't have much of a choice."

"That's fer sure. Ublaz or ghosts?" Romsca growled.

Barranca pointed to the map. "I'd say ghosts. We don't know they'll find us, we might be able to avoid them."

"But what exactly are they?" Sayna interrupted. "Romsca said she didn't know, and mentioned huge tooth marks on bones. That sounds more like those Monitors than some supernatural creature."

Arashi nodded. "Aye, I thought that too."

"It's a good theory, but only in theory. Ublaz rounded them all up; even the ones he doesn't have on his guard. He keeps them in some sort of nesting area." Barranca shook his head. "No, I'm afraid whatever's out there is like nothing we've ever seen."

Romsca raised a paw for a moment, and then dropped it again. "I have a solution. Me ship is docked around the island a ways. She don't gotta scrap a food left on her, or a drop a fresh water, but we could take some. Anyway, it's better'n barging into the wilds at night."

There was a pause, and Xzaris nodded. "I'm fer that."

"Yes." Sayna agreed. "If you're blind, you'd be dead meat in a battle with monsters."

"Aye. Thanks." Xzaris sounded sarcastic.

Durral had been sitting silently, but now he protested. "Back to that horrible, rocking ship? I was just getting used to dry land again ... would we really be safer there? Didn't you say the monsters attack ships?"

"Not ships the size a Waveworm Abbotmouse." Romsca shook her head. "Not normally."

Arashi added in. "Aye, and if we stay here, it's just a matter of time before we're caught. Then, let me assure ye, there will be no escape."

"Alright ..." Durral groaned.

"There's a problem, tanight's the best night ta git out .. how does Romsca make it?" Xzaris asked.

Romsca tried to sit up. "I can walk …"

She fell back with a groan, and Sayna shook her head. "No, you can't. However I noticed there are two horses in your stable, captain. Can they swim?"

Barranca nodded. "Of course, most horses on Sampetra are trained to do so."

"Then we'd better take them with us. They may come in handy."

Durral shuffled his paws. "If .. we're really leaving, maybe I should pack some food?"

"Good idea Durral." Sayna nodded firmly. "I can help with that."

Barranca looked slightly suspicious, as if wondering if they would poison it, but he gave in. "Hmph. I suppose. Arashi, could you show them where everything is? I'll saddle the horses."

He pointed at Shilo, standing silent in the doorway. "And what do we do with him?"

"He's coming with us." Sayna laid a paw on the little rat's shoulder, and he smiled the tiniest bit.

"Aye, but can I trust him?" Barranca crossed his arms.

Shilo stepped forward, laying his ears flat against his neck and kneeling, "C ... captain ... I .. can't go back to being .. a r .. ratguard. I ... I don't want to .. either. I .. wish t .. to swear allegiance to you."

"He's the leader?" Romsca asked from the couch.

Barranca's features softened, and he chuckled. "You know, there are technically four captains in this room."

"W ... well you're the .. oldest." Shilo looked nervous. "I … I thought that would .. m .. make you the final authority."

For the first time in a long while, the stoat laughed. "Ha ... son, is that how the ratguard functions? The oldest is the leader?"

"W .. well .. n .. not always …"

Barranca winked at Romsca. "He has a point, don't you think? But in all honesty, captains are equals. They rule their own crews, but they don't rule each other."

"Y .. yes I .. I know that .." Shilo looked embarrassed.

Sayna clapped him on the back. "I think you broke the ice. Can you saddle a horse?"

The rat nodded. "O .. of course."

Arashi stood, motioning Durral follow her. Sayna moved to follow them, but pointed a claw at Romsca as she did so. "You stay put."

She gave Xzaris a look. "You see she does."

Barranca led Shilo out the front door, and Val followed them. "Hey, I can help."

Arashi and the two mice left for the kitchen, and Romsca sighed. "Sayna's good at giving orders, ain't she?"

"She's 'bout as good as a capt'n." Xzaris agreed.

"Well she said she was a queen once." Romsca closed her eyes. "Guess that'd explain her bossiness."

Xzaris smiled faintly. "She saved ya, didn't she?"

"Yea."

"Then I kin take some orders from her, she's worthy a that."

Romsca didn't open her eyes, but a smile stained her muzzle. "At least our family's back tagether. Sept Rasconza ... pray fer him matey. The wrath of Ublaz ain't easy ta bear."

Xzaris slipped his paw into hers. "Pray with me .. that there would be a solution ta this. That one day, we might all be tagether again. Someday."

"Aye." Romsca sighed. "Someday."

=Next=

The lights of Sampetra looked far different from above then on the ground. Like a patch of starlight had fallen from the heavens and taken residence on earth.

"Aquilo?"

The silvery white wolf looked up from where he was gazing into the fountain in Ignasa's courtyard. The speaker trotted to his side, a wolf with snow white, nearly glowing fur. "What are you occupying yourself with at this time?"

"Watching the mortals." Aquilo shook his head. "Something is changing, Malcheus."

"I know. You've felt it too, then?"

The silver-tipped wolf nodded. "I think we all have. The balance of the world is shifting like it only did once before."

"Ah, those days." Malcheus sat down beside his friend. "Long lost to the mortal's history, or at least, mostly. The pearls will be unleashed again."

Aquilo turned his head slightly. "But it will be different this time. Even we do not understand why our Lord left the pearls in the realm of mortals."

There was a soft breath behind them, and the two looked around quickly, before bowing low.

Ignasa sat between them, looking into the fountain for a moment. "Because they are a reminder. A reminder for beasts to follow the light instead of darkness. Sadly, the evil of the world around them plays with the mortal's minds … but they still have a part to play."

His eyes betrayed deep sadness, and the two wolves let their ears droop. Malcheus hung his head. "We ask your forgiveness Lord."

"We did not mean disrespect." Aquilo added, in his soft voice.

"And I did not come to judge." Ignasa smiled. "You are my captains, and I have a task for you."

The two sat up straight as the cat switched his tail. "From among the ranks, find the strongest, the swiftest, the bravest, the kindest, and the wisest. We prepare for war, but a war unlike the others we have fought. There is always war in the heavens when there is war on the earth, however this time, the warriors of heaven will fight on the earth. Your mission is to guard all those who follow me."

"Yes sire ..." Malcheus looked slightly confused, but he bowed his head. "It shall be as you say."

Ignasa nodded. "Good. And from the ones you choose, choose seven. These will have the hardest task of all, to defend the seven mortals who are given the pearls. At this time, they are not all my followers."

Aquilo blinked. "Milord, if they do not follow you, their minds are exposed to Malimore's attacks ... how do we guard them against that? If Malimore knows who they are ..."

"He will spare no expense to warp their hearts into his evil." Ignasa's words were laced with certainty. "So for the sake of the ones I call, the seventh is hidden until the darkest hour.

The beast must be defended at all costs, but they must also be defended in secret."

Malcheus and Aquilo exchanged glances, before nodding. "Yes Lord."

Ignasa laid his muzzle on each of their foreheads. "I will give you the strength you need to face this. Be strong my warriors, let the courage of lions flow through your veins ... and do not fear the darkness."

He turned to the fountain, eyes glowing softly. "A new age is coming. An age like none other."

Author's note

(Tears of the Ocean book three is coming soon! Keep an eye out for the final chapter, Seven Tears Shed! (I'll leave a link when I start it)