Chapter Twenty
Tracked Down
He stood in an alley watching the building across a darkened street. The one lantern hanging by the door provided scant illumination since the city's lamps remained untended in this part of the seaport. A stiff breeze from the harbor swirled down the deserted street caused the overhead sign to creak as it swung back and forth. The badger, standing to his left, faded further into the alley's shadows.
When the badger moved, eight other hares altered their stance. Each soldier patted his weapon. One shifted his crossbow off his back, his finger stroking the loaded bolt. Another gripped his short sword. The badger remained silent.
Major Eytomin maintained his position halfway between the badger and his squad. He crept forward until he stood by the badger's side. Now, he leaned far enough into the street that he had an unobstructed view of the Cozy Den Inn. Nothing moved.
When he drew closer, the badger whispered. "I do wish you had been with me at Plintar. Together, we would have stopped those slavers."
"Politics," he said. "Your title gave you the clout needed to get things done in another noble's court. However, the Long Patrol remained at base. If the king sent us, it would assign far too much importance to bandits camped in the mountains. Nobody anticipated slavers raiding east of the Grand Spar."
"Still," growled Lord Brisson.
"Begging your pardon, sire, but we cannot stay out here much longer. In another two hours, it will be dawn. An hour later, the tide goes out and any crew beasts will be rushing back to their ship. If you wish to keep this a clandestine operation, we must take action soon."
The badger nodded. "For three months we've tracked down several leads. A disgruntled army clerk, a greedy merchant, a disreputable thug, and a blabbermouth dock worker, all of them eventually leading us here."
For the first time that night, Lord Brisson gazed at him. "I had hoped our quarry would be here so we could finish this once and for all. No such luck. You know the plan; signal me when all is secured."
Without replying, Major Eytomin snapped his fingers and pointed across the street. Each hare rushed the Inn. Weapons merged with paws as they stood outside the closed door. One soldier began a silent count while holding his arm up. The others watched that soldier as if he didn't exist. He entered the tavern alone.
The outer entryway funneled patrons through an inner set of double doors. He pushed through and took a step to his left. A chair creaked as a burly wharf rat advanced. His paw shot out so fast the rat never got a chance to challenge him. He squeezed the bouncer's neck. The rat's eyes rolled up and he plopped back onto his chair with a groan. The rat made no further effort to rise.
Major Eytomin spared enough time to give a quick glance to the counter at the other end of the room. The mouse stationed at the desk never changed her position. She continued flipping cards onto her counter, ignoring everything else. He extinguished the candle sitting by the door, which plunged the doorway area into darkness. No reaction.
He entered the common room. He crossed the floor, noticing how patrons hid their faces in the shadowy booths. Their conversations ceased whenever his eyes passed over them. By the time Major Eytomin scanned the room a second time, customers gathered whatever gear they carried and hurried for the door. By the time he reached the far end of the common room, every patron had departed. He leaned onto the counter, feigning a casual stance.
The weasel barkeeper greeted his newest customer with the standard litany he heard whenever he entered any inn. At no time did the fellow make any move closer to his newest customer. Instead, he became engrossed with polishing the tankard he held while standing as far away as the counter allowed.
"What be your pleasure, good sir? Our fine establishment has an excellent array of food, drink, and accommodations if any or all please you," offered the weasel.
"What I seek is the owner of this fine establishment barkeep. Where is Madame Sultakka?"
Despite the low lighting, he knew by the weasel's dismissive expression he had no intention of complying. His retort just confirmed it.
"Don't come in here issuing orders as if I'm some beast that can be enthralled by a uniform. The Long Patrol has no authority in this city, not without one of our constables in attendance. So until you come back with one, order a drink or leave, rabbit."
The blade flashed through the air shattering the glass tankard. It also yanked the dingy washcloth out of the weasel's grip. Both blade and dishrag were now embedded in a wooden post several feet beyond the startled weasel. Major Eytomin flipped another knife out of his uniform sleeve with a casual motion before hiding it once more.
"Be very careful with the word rabbit, or I might take it as a personal insult. One I will enjoy settling with you in quick order. I carry a message for Captain Peggen. If that name doesn't bring the owner here, I will hunt her down. Needless to say, I can handle any trouble you care to send my way as easily as I did your bouncer."
The weasel glanced at the dark alcove where he expected the bouncer. Major Eytomin suspected the barkeep guessed the wharf rat's fate when the fellow didn't respond to the altercation. His assumption had the weasel moving at a near run to where the mouse sat.
He remained at the bar and made no effort at listening to their private conversation. The mouse disappeared into a back room at a casual pace while the weasel returned to his station. As he crossed the room, the barkeep kept both paws visible. When the mouse reappeared, she grabbed her jacket and fled the inn without a backward glance.
Several moments passed before a lady shrew exited the same room the mouse first entered. Her eyes strayed to the counter where he first noticed the mouse. The officer's exceptional hearing detected the shrew's tongue clicking. She strutted into the common room. Though her hips came no higher than the tabletops, she carried herself like a high-ranking noble attending a diplomatic function held in her honor. Her whole demeanor shouted she held the high ground and knew it.
"Alright rabbit, you have my interest with that bit of name dropping. Before you say anything else, what say I first direct your attention to the second floor railing? There you will see seven sea rats. Make one false move and …. Need I say more?"
"Madame Sultakka, I am Major Eytomin, commanding officer of the First Badger's Paw Division of the Long Patrol." He paused a moment, gauging her reaction. She either did not know, or did not care. "Before you go making any more meaningless threats, perchance you would like to recheck that second floor railing?"
The lady shrew, glanced up at the second floor balcony in a bored manner. If he had to guess by the way Madame Sultakka's jaw dropped, her confidence shattered faster than the weasel's tankard. He knew the railings supported seven beasts, all armed with crossbows. However, seven steel-eyed hares wearing the uniform of the Long Patrol had replaced the rat bouncers she anticipated.
Major Eytomin called up to them. "Any problems?"
An eighth hare leaned across the second floor railing, waving her paw as if she spotted her lover. She held no visible weapon. The doe couldn't suppress her wide grin when she answered the officer.
"Some of these sea rats proved a bit thick-headed when we asked them nicely for their weapons. We convinced them to take a nap. Should we wake them now or let them get their beauty rest?" The doe turned her head for a second before she faced the officer. "Judging by their looks, they should sleep until next week."
Major Eytomin chuckled. "Convince them to leave and send them off with my blessing. Once they go, let me know when you have this cesspool evacuated."
Four other hares joined the doe. A few moments later, doors banged open. Shouts and screams, both male and female, ruptured the quiet. Next, the sound of many feet echoed through the room as the occupants raced down the wooden staircase leading to the inn's exit. The door Major Eytomin used banged open as the guests departed. The noise diminished until an eerie silence replaced it.
Madame Sultakka's slouched as she watched her fleeing guests. She turned towards the barkeep, but the weasel had slid out from behind the counter, his paws held high in surrender. When Major Eytomin pointed to the door, he bolted.
He glared at the shrew. He stood no more than a pace away, the officer let his words roll off his tongue with studied civility. Yet his clenched fist held a short distance from the shrew's nose emphasized his true feelings.
"As you can guess, I am no friend of your Captain. Do forgive our deception, dear lady; but how else could we get a cockroach like you out in the open?"
Just as the shrew opened her mouth, the female hare who spoke earlier made a noisy entry. The doe said nothing as she moved to the far end of the room. She feigned disinterest as she rested her rump on a nearby tabletop. Two more hares moved to the opposite side flanking the shrew. Major Eytomin waved his paw. One hare on the second floor balcony lowered his crossbow. The private sounded a long sharp whistle.
Seconds later, Lord Brisson made his appearance. The badger maintained a hard expression as he moved into the common room. He reached over his shoulder and unlimbered his war axe. The badger approached a support column near a now deserted table. Lord Brisson swung the double-sided axe at the wooden support post wrapped in its metal sheath. His blade cleaved the post in two as if it were a sapling instead of something as wide as any hare.
The badger approached Sultakka, his eyes turning a shade of red like a banked fire brought back to a fiery glow. Sultakka quivered. Her complete change in attitude did not go unnoticed by him. Lord Brisson spoke in a conversational voice anyone else would have thought congenial, but Major Eytomin knew better. He recalled how the lower Lord Brisson's voice became, the greater his anger.
"Everyone, leave this building. I will speak in private with this filthy shrew."
Although he flanked the badger, he almost missed his words. Major Eytomin protested, but kept his voice just high enough for the badger. "Sire, your safety is my responsibility. You might have the rank, but your father is king. His orders supersede yours."
The male badger never broke eye contact with the lady shrew. "You honestly think this insignificant insect can harm me? Search her and check the room for any weapon if that will make you feel better, but I will not have you interfering when I question her."
Sultakka protested when the female hare's paws patted her down. As she stepped away, the badger's voice purred at an even lower level. Major Eytomin recognized such a voice as the prelude to an explosive temper that rivaled any volcanic eruption.
"For now, I seek information. Madame Sultakka, you can either give me what I want or I can allow the law here to persuade you to give it to me later. It's your choice."
Major Eytomin waved the other members of his squad to the door. He hesitated there as he counted. When the last two hares appeared, he stopped them. Without breaking eye contact with the badger or shrew who now sat at opposite ends of a table, he ordered both to guard the rear exit. The major waited until his ears detected the sound of the back door closing before he withdrew.
Outside the Cozy Den Inn, the hares waited. Major Eytomin worried about leaving Lord Brisson alone and unprotected even though he knew the shrew had no weapon. Sunrise came. Orders not withstanding, he decided if the heir to the throne did not come out when the town's clock struck the hour, he would go inside and be damned the consequences.
The town's clock tower chimed the hour. As the last note fell silent, he stirred from his post outside the door. His paw grasped the latch and pulled the door open. He signaled the others to enter, but none moved.
Before he could voice his command, Lord Brisson greeted him. Major Eytomin fell in step behind the badger as he crossed the street. The other hares remained at their posts.
"Have you any orders, sire?"
"Send one soldier to the Count apprizing him of our situation. Extend my apologies for not delivering my message in person, as time is short. When the clock strikes the next quarter hour, you are to torch this place. Allow no one to fight the fire. They can protect the other buildings, but I will have this vile place purged from the memories of this land."
"And what are we to do with Madame Sultakka? Is she to burn with the building? Is it wise invading Count Delupo's territory, harassing his citizens, and destroying his capital city without some explanation?"
"To answer your questions, I gave the shrew safe passage out the back way. As to the rest, you do tend to exaggerate our actions, major."
He stepped before the badger. "I'm a soldier, not a politician. Yet I know one can sometimes be deadlier than the other. All I'm doing is suggesting you make a peace offering to this old sea dog pirate. You either smooth his hackles or allow him some way of saving face. We came here unannounced and did something he might consider an act of war. If our roles were reversed, wouldn't you be howling mad?"
The badger's mouth opened and then snapped shut. He scratched the side of his muzzle while his eyes took on a distant glaze. His paws dropped to his side and he faced the deserted building. Lord Brisson remained in this pose for some time before he spoke.
"Very well, advise Count Delupo we will rebuild this inn to his specifications at our expense. We will make any monetary restitution he thinks these surrounding businesses deserve due to our disruption. Full documentation of our actions and the reasons behind them will be provided within two weeks. If he is still not satisfied, tell him to take it up with my father. Once that building has been reduced to ashes, we return home."