Chapter 37

Quincy looked up worriedly at Atheria up on the Quarterdeck of the repaired Starfish. She hadn't spoken once since they had left Mossflower. Only the occasional nod or 'yes' and 'no'. He turned back to the others with a sigh.

"Milady still won't speak t'us."

Trout shrugged as he ladled out stew and filled Laurel and Violet's bowls. "Give 'er time, mate."

Wally was finishing off his third helping. He shook his head. "I couldn't get her to eat this mornin'."

Martin stood up from where he sat and grabbed an extra bowl. "Fill this up. I'll take it to her." He held it out for Trout. The otter raised his eyebrows as he did so.

"Good luck gettin' Lady Atheria t'speak t'you, warrior. She's stubborn."

Martin turned away with the steaming bowl in his paws.

Atheria leaned against the rail, staring blankly down at the waves and the foam that splashed up on the side of the ship. Hearing paw steps, she turned and was surprised to see Martin.

"Are you alright?" He asked her.

Atheria sighed and turned back to the sea. "I'm fine."

Martin walked up to the side of her, still holding the bowl of stew. "I brought you something. You haven't eaten since last night."

"Thank you, Martin but I'm not hungry."

He shrugged, set the bowl aside and leaned on the rail. There was silence between them for a few moments.

Atheria gripped the railing. "I don't know what... came over me last night. I'm sorry." She began tentatively. Martin turned his head.

When she didn't speak, Martin put his paw on her shoulder.

"What happened with Beryl is over now."

She shook her head. "That's not all that's bothering me. He almost took Violet from me." Her voice broke and she hurriedly wiped her tears. "Just like Verang took the rest of our family."

Martin waited patiently while she composed herself. She sniffed, looking up at the sky. "I would have killed him if you hadn't taken over." She shook her head. "I certainly proved I'm not the best princess to my crew if I can't hold my temper."

"Don't beat yourself up, your highness." Martin gave her a hard stare. "I barely know you, but from what I've seen, you are the right one to lead Kamwe. Not everyone is perfect."

She looked at him doubtfully. "But you made it look so... easy. You didn't let Beryl rub you the wrong way."

Martin smiled knowingly. "Can I tell you something, Atheria?"

She waited.

Martin crossed his arms over his chest. "Not everyone starts out perfect in life. When I was younger, I was more hot-headed and reckless. I've certainly made many mistakes in my life, your highness. And I had to learn from every one of them. What happened on the beach is just a minor bump in the path." He put his paws back on the railing and looked out to sea. "You learn from it and move on."

Atheria wiped her eyes and sighed. "You're right." She glanced over at him. His pale grey eyes had a far away look in them, as if he was seeing things she couldn't. She looked at the bowl of stew.

"Who made lunch?" She asked.

"Trimp and Gaia."

A slow smile appeared on her face. "At least it's not Wally's." She picked up the bowl. Martin couldn't help but smile either.

"That bad?"

Atheria gave him a disgusted look. "Wally raised Quincy and I, you know. Before we knew how to cook for ourselves, we had to eat his 'creations' as he calls them."

"The others are worried about you." Martin was trying hard not to laugh.

Atheria could see the laughter in his eyes and she grinned. "Yes, we better join them."

The two warriors left the railing and headed down the stairs to the main deck.

Clamjaw stood to the side of the cell, his legs trembling with fear. Verang glared at the words scratched into the wall, his eyes now a blood red with rage.

"You're sure you locked the cage?" He snarled at the luckless rat.

"Yes Sire!" Clamjaw nodded affirmatively. "The guards were still alive when I left. He must of escaped in the night."

Verang rubbed his chin as he thought. "But how, without making any noise."

Clamjaw gulped. "He's a mercenary, my Lord."

"I know that!" The Vile One hissed. "Where's the stone claws?"

The rat dropped to his knees. "He took them, Lord Verang. I've searched but can't find them!"

The stoat reached down and grabbed the rat's throat. "You idiot! There's a highly trained killer on the loose and its your fault!"

"But Sire!" Clamjaw cried hoarsely as the stoat squeezed his windpipe. "Have mercy!"

Verang growled. "I'll show you mercy!" He tossed the rat into the empty cell and slammed the door shut. Clamjaw lay on the floor, trembling with terror. Verang shook his head.

"These bars won't keep that fox away. But it will keep you from deserting me."

Greyfur walked up the rise and looked down at the beach below. The Black Swallow was still anchored, floating serenely in the water. He sighed tiredly and waved for the others to follow. Just as they entered the trees again, a figure blocked their path. Greyfur stopped, shocked to see who it was.

"How...?" He began.

Stoneclaw walked out of the shaded woods, paws behind his back. "Couldn't find the mouse warrior, my old friend?" His black eyes glinted murderously.

The foxes and assorted vermin waited tensely as Stoneclaw unsheathed his brutal claws.

Greyfur shook his head slowly. "No sir."

The evil mercenary shrugged. "Not that its our problem." Before Verang's weasels, ferrets and rats knew it; their fox comrades pulled their weapons and slayed them quickly and without hardly a sound. Greyfur smiled viscously and kicked at the still form of a rat.

Stoneclaw sniffed. "All according to plan."

"How's the Vile One faring, sir?" Greyfur shook his leader's paw.

Stoneclaw grinned. "Scared out of his wits, my friend." He looked about at his remaining foxes. "Send the signal to the others. We have a mouse and otter to track down."

Greyfur raised an eyebrow in surprise. "We're still going after them?"

"Of course! That otter and I have unfinished business. My charade with the Vile One was the only way to put fear of me into his black heart! It's called double dealing. Now, we have the upper paw."

"What will we do when we find them?" One of the fox's asked.

"We kill the otter and we take the mouse to Verang."

Greyfur was confused. "But what about-

"Trust me. The mouse means nothing to me but he does to the Vile One. Think of the price the stoat will give us for bringing his hated enemy back to him."

He looked about at the dead vermin, wrinkling his nose. "Take what you want off these fools. Then leave them for the scavengers."

And the plot thickens!

To Maxx: Larkspur and Aster are not related to the Mirdops. I totally forgot about them. I just figured we don't see very many rabbit characters in the Redwall books.