Chapter 13

Though Noonvale's location was kept a secret. Brome took no chances. There were many that had been born in Noonvale and left to live elsewhere. There was a chance they could have let it slip. If it was pirates Keyla had seen, he didn't want Noonvale on their path of destruction. Somebeast on that ship might know where they were.

In case of a supposed invasion, he had found another place to hide his creatures until the danger passed. Farther inland, the cliffs became larger and rockier.

Seasons ago, he and Keyla had found a series of caves that went deep into the hillside. It was the perfect hideaway and easily disguisable should they be invaded. It had been well provisioned and ready to accept the new arrivals.

Now that time had come and Brome didn't waste a minute. Once Noonvale's inhabitants were warned about the impending danger, they began to pack what they could and prepare their families to leave.

Maya helped where she could to keep her mind off her missing daughter. She was helping Teaselpaw and another mousemother with medical supplies: wrapping herbs in little bundles and packing them away. She brushed a stray tear from her cheek and continued her task. The hedgehog patted her gently. "She will be alright, marm. Laurel is a strong little maid."

"I know." Maya sniffed. "I have this feeling that she's alright but I wish I knew where she was." Her voice cracked and the hedgehog squeezed her friend's paw comfortingly.

Brome and Keyla, along with Ballaw, Rowanoak and Celandine's husband Birch were planning a system of defense should the pirates come closer to their new hideout. Brome, being a peaceful creature wanted to avoid bloodshed as much as possible but he could see in Keyla's eyes that the otter was itching for a fight.

"I think we need a few creatures here just in case they do find Noonvale. I don't want any fighting. I just want them watched. That way we can figure out their next move." Brome explained. "We also need sentries to stand watch nearby and warn us if the pirates come close to the caves."

"Do you think they would travel that far from the sea?" Birch asked him.

Brome eyed him levelly. "Yes, I do. It's better to be prepared. Pirates are unpredictable."

Ballaw rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "In the meantime, old bean, what about your young'un?"

Brome clenched his fist. "I want to go out and find her more than anything. But Noonvale's safety is threatened."

Rowanoak patted him gently with a large paw, seeing how conflicted he was. "We can't sit around and wait for Laurel to come back. We need to keep searching for her."

Keyla brightened as an idea popped into his head. "You're still in contact with those mapmaking owls, aren't you?"

Brome raised an eyebrow. "Not since my parents passed on. Why?"

Birch nodded. "Emalet would know where to look. I say we ask her!"

A glimmer of hope shone in the Chieftain's hazel eyes. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that? She has the advantage of flight and could easily spot her."

Ballaw grinned. "You've had enough on your mind, old lad. Thank goodness we have an intelligent chap in our midst." He patted Keyla heartily on the back.

Brome stood up. "Alright. Let's get everyone to the caves. Then, once everything is settled, I'm off to the owl's mountain. I want my daughter found and brought home!"

Since Laurel's disappearance, Hazeldine was riddled with guilt. She should have followed her or gone with her. Now, she didn't know if she would ever see her best friend again. She kept herself busy, helping her father with the provisions. As she rounded the corner with a basket of apples, she ran smack into Zinnia. The two maids fell backwards, apples tumbling from the fallen basket and rolling on the grass. Zinnia glared at her.

"Watch it, spiny!" She said crossly. Hazeldine glared at her.

"You watch it!" The hogmaid began to pick up the apples and to her surprise, Zinnia stopped to help her. They looked up at each other over the basket. The snooty squirrel's face was uncharacteristically kind.

"I'm sorry for running into you, Hazeldine. And I'm sorry about Laurel too."

Hazeldine stood up and picked up her basket. "So am I." She walked around her and to her annoyance, Zinnia followed, keeping in step with her.

"Don't you have something else to do, Zinnia?" Hazeldine asked her reproachfully.

The squirrelmaid shrugged. "Not really. I can help you with whatever you're doing."

Hazeldine stopped and stared at her. "Are you feeling okay?" She was startled by Zinnia's sudden change in mood.

Zinnia blinked. "Yes, why?"

The hogmaid shook her head disbelievingly and kept walking. Why was Zinnia being nice to her all of a sudden? She couldn't wait to tell Laurel. Her heart sank as she thought about her missing friend. If she ever saw her again.

The pirates had anchored their ship and had followed Verang and Stoneclaw onto the beach. It was late afternoon. Too late in the day to go searching and start an invasion should they find Noonvale, the Vile One decided. They would camp on the shore tonight and head out early in the morning. But first, Verang had a few things to go over with Stoneclaw.

The stoat and the fox sat next to their own fire that night, out of earshot of their respective crews. The black-eyed fox sharpened his spear, checking the point with a finger until he was satisfied with it. Verang took another swig of grog.

"I'm curious to know how you learned of Noonvale's location, fox."

Stoneclaw looked up from his spearpoint. "That piece of information shouldn't matter."

Verang kept his temper in check. He smiled civilly, inwardly seething. "I want to make sure you're not leading me on for your own gain."

Stoneclaw stared at him blankly. "I will say this, stoat. I didn't come all this way to deceive you. You've paid me too well." He went back to sharpening his spear. Verang couldn't help but smile at his comment. But another thought crossed his mind.

"If you've seen it before, what stopped you from taking it over?"

Stoneclaw slammed his spearpoint into the sand. The sudden show of anger made Verang flinch. Usually, Stoneclaw was unnervingly placid. The fox pointed at him, irately. "I was with a robber band, seasons ago, before you had even arrived at Kamwe. It was one of my first mercenary jobs. We ambushed a holt of otters to take their young ones as slaves. The captain was able to get information from one of them before we were attacked from behind by Noonvale's creatures. I barely escaped with my life, let alone a few slaves of our own. We took them to the Kamwian Islands but unfortunately, they were freed by the natives and disappeared. You can wage war on this mouse warrior but I won't fight your battles for you."

He stood up. "I will lead you there in the morning. That's what I was hired to do. I will loan you my twenty foxes but you leave me out of it." With that, the fox freed his spear from the sand and stomped off into the night.

Verang scratched the side of his head thoughtfully. The fox was afraid of something. Or someone. And he aimed to find out why.

He squinted into the darkness. "Marshfoot!"

The ferret had been listening nearby, thinking he had hidden himself well enough. But he had underestimated his leader. The ferret walked over warily.

"Stop skulking about, you moron! I knew you were there listening." Verang glared at him. "I want you and Clamjaw to keep an eye on Stoneclaw for me." Marshfoot stiffened.

"But… but Sire. Those claws! I don't want those claws ripping me to pieces!"

Verang tossed the tankard in the fire and the flammable liquid caused a small explosion. Marshfoot cowered on the sand. Verang kicked him on the rump, viciously. "My claws will do the job if you don't get out of my sight!"

Marshfoot slunk off, still trembling with fright.

These chapters are short but I promise, the story will get better from here!