Whitewood had climbed aboard the Sea Dragon with little trouble. He heard
Killicia invite the crew on shore. This may buy him some time. He worked
his way through the lower decks searching for any clue that might show who
was in charge of the Attacks. There was hardly anything of worth in the
hold. Some stolen food and bits and pieces of carved wood and jewelry, but
nothing of great value. The Corporal decided to check up in the Captains
cabin and upper decks. Moving in the shadows the hare made his way around
the ship.
Back at the tavern Killicia had been reunited with some old friends. They all sat in the back, talking about the last three seasons. "Stonetooth ain't half the captain you was." Said Vangenta a female Weasel. "All we done is follow the bigger ships around cleaning up their scraps." Added Feska a short female stoat. "Stonetooth has always been like that mates. He's a coward if I ever saw one." Killicia growled. "We would have gone back for you had we known you wasn't dead. You knows that Killy." "I know, Vangenta. Stonetooth knew I wasn't done in . He wouldn't have made a few blows at me himself if he thought I was dead." "Do you plan to kill him?" Feska asked. "'cause if you don't kill him I will. He's ruined us mate."
Two large male corsairs had been listing in, they sat down and joined in the conversation. " Aye it would be good to see someone croak Stonetooth. He 'as it coming." said the first. The second male nodded and took a long drink from his mug. Killicia sipped at her drink as she spoke. " Stonetooth may have done us wrong mates, but I don't plan to kill him." There was a long uncomfortable silence. " What! Did I hear you right?" "yes, Vangenta you did." "He tried to kill you Killy! More then once may I add." " Listen Feska, it's..... you wouldn't understand." "What's not to understand! You could kill him if you wanted to. I think you should would save us allot of trouble" Killy stood up from the table and drew her Rapier, every corner of the Tavern became quiet. " Don't bring me in to do your dirty work, Slittail!" She bellowed at the male weasel who had spoken. " I dose what I likes stoat! Don't forget that!" The stoat cowered under his former Captain. "I didn't mean anything by it Cap'n." Killicia put back her sword and sat down again. Perhaps she should have never left. Maybe it would have been better had she stayed a corsair. These thoughts danced around the Ferrets mind. Visions of a past she thought she had forgotten raced in her head. This was where she belonged, not up in some old cabin alone. But Then Killicia remembered all the bad things that had happened in her life, why she had left the life of a corsair. She finished of her grog in hopes she could drown the memories.
Killy spent the rest of the night drinking, and talking. As the night wore on the corsairs started singing old sea shanties, calling upon The ferret to sing. When Killicia had been a corsair she was famous for her voice. Unlike most vermin her voice could be a sweet soprano or a soft alto. It was never harsh or rough. Even though Killicia felt tipsy after all the grog, she stood on the counter and sang song after song. It wasn't long before Vangenta and Feska climbed up on to the counter to sing with her, just as they once did at Sampetra.
Now it was starting to grow late, many vermin were going back to the ship. Vangenta and a large Ferret named Deathfur helped the now very drunk Killicia back to the ship. Once on the deck looked like her plan had taken a turn for the worse. Whitewood was tied to the mast, still disguised but badly beaten up. Stonetooth and a few others stood around him weapons ready. Thinking Quickly she cried out. "What is going on!" "Tis none of your business, Killicia!" "Well I'm making it my business, Stonetooth! Why is that ferret tied to the mast?" "Caught him snooping around." Answered one of the crew. "Did you now!" said Killy approaching the pitiful Whitewood. She looked at him carefully then gasped as if she suddenly recognized him. "Greywood!" "You know 'em Killy?" asked the crew member that had just spoken. "Know him, Aye I do. But I wished I never met him." "And why is that?" muttered Stonetooth. "Oh, we was very close at one point. Till he ran off with that bar maid!" Killicia glared into the captive's eyes and slapped him. The crew laughed and carried on, as she continued. "What do you have to say for your self now, scum!" Whitewood was at a loss for words, but he went along with the ferret. "I'm sorry." "Well sorry isn't going to cut it. " "ummm I'm very sorry." "You've messed with the wrong ferret now mate!" Killicia said drawing her Rapier and cutting the hares bounds. " I should run you though right now!" The crew cheered encouragingly. With the rapier point at his neck Whitewood was pressed against the rail. With only the sea as his escape. Killy winked at him, as she yelled. "What are you going to do now, Eh. Jump?" That was exactly what Whitewood did. He was a good swimmer as far as hares go. Leaving the grimy cape in the water, he swam as fast as he could to shore. All the vermin ran to the rail to see what had become of this ferret Greywood. "He's dead," Killy said." Look his cape is there in the water. Never was much of a swimmer. Too bad I couldn't do him in. Aw well he's gone now any way." In the dim light the floating cape did look a bit like a dead body so the onlookers turned away. Disappointed they hadn't seen Killicia kill anybeast. Most went to there bunks, others returned to the tavern. Leaving only Killicia and Stonetooth on deck. " He isn't dead is he." " Why dose it matter?" "He was spying on my ship, To me it matters. I think you and him are both in on this together." "What makes you think that Stonetooth." "You let him go, didn't you." The two ferrets circled each other not removing there eyes from one another. "What are you doing here Killicia? Don't play games with me."
" I'm not really in the mood to play games tonight. I'm doing nothing, Stonetooth. Just helping out a mate of mine. She's got it into her little head that you attacked her family. But I don't believe it." "What makes you so sure. Things have changed since you left." " I know, they changed, for the worse. You aint half the Captain I was, and you know it." Stonetooth started to draw his weapon slowly. The female ferret shook her head like a mother to a naughty child. "Oh, please..... Don't make me Kill you. It would make such a mess. You wouldn't want blood stains on your nice clean deck. " The Corsair Captain stood ready to strike sword drawn. Killicia brought out her rapier and bared her teeth. "I could have finished you off back in Mossflower, had I wanted to. I think it's time to finish what we started four seasons back, eh Killy. " " Don't patronize yourself. It would take twenty of ye to send me to my grave." Steel hit cold steel as the pair fought on the deck. It had been a long time since Killicia had held a rapier. So it wasn't long before Stonetooth had her pinned against the rail. "What are you going to do now, Cripple?" Upon hearing the word Cripple, Killicia kicked her attacker hard in the stomach with her good leg. "Could a cripple do that?!" Stonetooth doubled over in pain for a moment. His brain worked quickly as Killicia prepared to strike. Pulling a small dagger from his belt the crafty ferret struck. The dagger cut deeply across Killicia's right shoulder. Screaming in pain she fought on. " I have no time for this. Why couldn't you have just died back in the woods." "I wouldn't give you the pleasure of slaying me. I don't intend to now either. Good thing for you I was hurt bad in the first place. I can't see you becoming a Captain if I was all and well. The crew would slit your miserable throat in a second. In fact they probably will if you slay me."
" I rule them with fear, they wouldn't dare. You on the other hand wish to be everybeasts mate. Why don't you go and live with them peace loving Mice of Redwall!"
"But, if I lived at Redwall I wouldn't be able to deal with the likes of you. Now would I!"
Stonetooth gasped for air as her fought, he was tired now. Seeing this Killicia made her move. Knocking him flat on his back she held the sword tip under his chin. " Not bad for a one legged excuse for a ferret." "Did I say you could speak? No, I didn't! Now you are going to be a liddle song bird and tell me who has been attacking the northern coast." With the blade tip shoved none too gently to his neck, Stonetooth spoke. " Firetail, the fox. Lives down south somewheres. I haven't followed him for awhile. He's gone from the northern coast now I thinks. Will you let me up Killy? I promise I'll leave you to go about your business. You can have the ship back if you wants, I'll leave and everything. Just let me up. Don't kill me!" The ferret burbled.
With out so much as a backwards glance Killicia lifted the blade for his neck. Then turned away wordlessly. "You always was the good 'un Swifty." Stonetooth said creeping up behind Killicia dagger ready. Like a flash of lightning The female ferret spin around. Killing Stonetooth with one quick jab. As the Deadbeast fell She smiled saying. "That's one way of putting it I suppose. Now look what you've gone and made me do! You just had to make me kill you Stonetooth. Couldn't leave well enough alone, could you!" The Crew Who had watched from the deck entrance, stormed the deck cheering, and laughing. The body that had once was there leader was thrown over board with no ceremony. They called to Killicia to take back her title. To this she shook her head. " I can't, I've lost me touch mates. Vangenta is yer new Captain, Mayhaps she'll be better then I." The crew was unhappy to hear The ferret refuse to join them, but didn't complain about their new captain. amidst the hubbub Killicia pulled Vangenta to the side. "Sail south, leave no trace. Creatures may be after you. I doubt you'll see me again, so do me this last favor?" "Anything Killy." "Never come here again, Vangenta. Never come close to Salamandastron. Don't listen to any ole searats who say there is tons of treasure there, 'cause there aint. Promise me this." The weasel nodded. "I'll leave you now Cap'n!" And with that she left.
Back at the tavern Killicia had been reunited with some old friends. They all sat in the back, talking about the last three seasons. "Stonetooth ain't half the captain you was." Said Vangenta a female Weasel. "All we done is follow the bigger ships around cleaning up their scraps." Added Feska a short female stoat. "Stonetooth has always been like that mates. He's a coward if I ever saw one." Killicia growled. "We would have gone back for you had we known you wasn't dead. You knows that Killy." "I know, Vangenta. Stonetooth knew I wasn't done in . He wouldn't have made a few blows at me himself if he thought I was dead." "Do you plan to kill him?" Feska asked. "'cause if you don't kill him I will. He's ruined us mate."
Two large male corsairs had been listing in, they sat down and joined in the conversation. " Aye it would be good to see someone croak Stonetooth. He 'as it coming." said the first. The second male nodded and took a long drink from his mug. Killicia sipped at her drink as she spoke. " Stonetooth may have done us wrong mates, but I don't plan to kill him." There was a long uncomfortable silence. " What! Did I hear you right?" "yes, Vangenta you did." "He tried to kill you Killy! More then once may I add." " Listen Feska, it's..... you wouldn't understand." "What's not to understand! You could kill him if you wanted to. I think you should would save us allot of trouble" Killy stood up from the table and drew her Rapier, every corner of the Tavern became quiet. " Don't bring me in to do your dirty work, Slittail!" She bellowed at the male weasel who had spoken. " I dose what I likes stoat! Don't forget that!" The stoat cowered under his former Captain. "I didn't mean anything by it Cap'n." Killicia put back her sword and sat down again. Perhaps she should have never left. Maybe it would have been better had she stayed a corsair. These thoughts danced around the Ferrets mind. Visions of a past she thought she had forgotten raced in her head. This was where she belonged, not up in some old cabin alone. But Then Killicia remembered all the bad things that had happened in her life, why she had left the life of a corsair. She finished of her grog in hopes she could drown the memories.
Killy spent the rest of the night drinking, and talking. As the night wore on the corsairs started singing old sea shanties, calling upon The ferret to sing. When Killicia had been a corsair she was famous for her voice. Unlike most vermin her voice could be a sweet soprano or a soft alto. It was never harsh or rough. Even though Killicia felt tipsy after all the grog, she stood on the counter and sang song after song. It wasn't long before Vangenta and Feska climbed up on to the counter to sing with her, just as they once did at Sampetra.
Now it was starting to grow late, many vermin were going back to the ship. Vangenta and a large Ferret named Deathfur helped the now very drunk Killicia back to the ship. Once on the deck looked like her plan had taken a turn for the worse. Whitewood was tied to the mast, still disguised but badly beaten up. Stonetooth and a few others stood around him weapons ready. Thinking Quickly she cried out. "What is going on!" "Tis none of your business, Killicia!" "Well I'm making it my business, Stonetooth! Why is that ferret tied to the mast?" "Caught him snooping around." Answered one of the crew. "Did you now!" said Killy approaching the pitiful Whitewood. She looked at him carefully then gasped as if she suddenly recognized him. "Greywood!" "You know 'em Killy?" asked the crew member that had just spoken. "Know him, Aye I do. But I wished I never met him." "And why is that?" muttered Stonetooth. "Oh, we was very close at one point. Till he ran off with that bar maid!" Killicia glared into the captive's eyes and slapped him. The crew laughed and carried on, as she continued. "What do you have to say for your self now, scum!" Whitewood was at a loss for words, but he went along with the ferret. "I'm sorry." "Well sorry isn't going to cut it. " "ummm I'm very sorry." "You've messed with the wrong ferret now mate!" Killicia said drawing her Rapier and cutting the hares bounds. " I should run you though right now!" The crew cheered encouragingly. With the rapier point at his neck Whitewood was pressed against the rail. With only the sea as his escape. Killy winked at him, as she yelled. "What are you going to do now, Eh. Jump?" That was exactly what Whitewood did. He was a good swimmer as far as hares go. Leaving the grimy cape in the water, he swam as fast as he could to shore. All the vermin ran to the rail to see what had become of this ferret Greywood. "He's dead," Killy said." Look his cape is there in the water. Never was much of a swimmer. Too bad I couldn't do him in. Aw well he's gone now any way." In the dim light the floating cape did look a bit like a dead body so the onlookers turned away. Disappointed they hadn't seen Killicia kill anybeast. Most went to there bunks, others returned to the tavern. Leaving only Killicia and Stonetooth on deck. " He isn't dead is he." " Why dose it matter?" "He was spying on my ship, To me it matters. I think you and him are both in on this together." "What makes you think that Stonetooth." "You let him go, didn't you." The two ferrets circled each other not removing there eyes from one another. "What are you doing here Killicia? Don't play games with me."
" I'm not really in the mood to play games tonight. I'm doing nothing, Stonetooth. Just helping out a mate of mine. She's got it into her little head that you attacked her family. But I don't believe it." "What makes you so sure. Things have changed since you left." " I know, they changed, for the worse. You aint half the Captain I was, and you know it." Stonetooth started to draw his weapon slowly. The female ferret shook her head like a mother to a naughty child. "Oh, please..... Don't make me Kill you. It would make such a mess. You wouldn't want blood stains on your nice clean deck. " The Corsair Captain stood ready to strike sword drawn. Killicia brought out her rapier and bared her teeth. "I could have finished you off back in Mossflower, had I wanted to. I think it's time to finish what we started four seasons back, eh Killy. " " Don't patronize yourself. It would take twenty of ye to send me to my grave." Steel hit cold steel as the pair fought on the deck. It had been a long time since Killicia had held a rapier. So it wasn't long before Stonetooth had her pinned against the rail. "What are you going to do now, Cripple?" Upon hearing the word Cripple, Killicia kicked her attacker hard in the stomach with her good leg. "Could a cripple do that?!" Stonetooth doubled over in pain for a moment. His brain worked quickly as Killicia prepared to strike. Pulling a small dagger from his belt the crafty ferret struck. The dagger cut deeply across Killicia's right shoulder. Screaming in pain she fought on. " I have no time for this. Why couldn't you have just died back in the woods." "I wouldn't give you the pleasure of slaying me. I don't intend to now either. Good thing for you I was hurt bad in the first place. I can't see you becoming a Captain if I was all and well. The crew would slit your miserable throat in a second. In fact they probably will if you slay me."
" I rule them with fear, they wouldn't dare. You on the other hand wish to be everybeasts mate. Why don't you go and live with them peace loving Mice of Redwall!"
"But, if I lived at Redwall I wouldn't be able to deal with the likes of you. Now would I!"
Stonetooth gasped for air as her fought, he was tired now. Seeing this Killicia made her move. Knocking him flat on his back she held the sword tip under his chin. " Not bad for a one legged excuse for a ferret." "Did I say you could speak? No, I didn't! Now you are going to be a liddle song bird and tell me who has been attacking the northern coast." With the blade tip shoved none too gently to his neck, Stonetooth spoke. " Firetail, the fox. Lives down south somewheres. I haven't followed him for awhile. He's gone from the northern coast now I thinks. Will you let me up Killy? I promise I'll leave you to go about your business. You can have the ship back if you wants, I'll leave and everything. Just let me up. Don't kill me!" The ferret burbled.
With out so much as a backwards glance Killicia lifted the blade for his neck. Then turned away wordlessly. "You always was the good 'un Swifty." Stonetooth said creeping up behind Killicia dagger ready. Like a flash of lightning The female ferret spin around. Killing Stonetooth with one quick jab. As the Deadbeast fell She smiled saying. "That's one way of putting it I suppose. Now look what you've gone and made me do! You just had to make me kill you Stonetooth. Couldn't leave well enough alone, could you!" The Crew Who had watched from the deck entrance, stormed the deck cheering, and laughing. The body that had once was there leader was thrown over board with no ceremony. They called to Killicia to take back her title. To this she shook her head. " I can't, I've lost me touch mates. Vangenta is yer new Captain, Mayhaps she'll be better then I." The crew was unhappy to hear The ferret refuse to join them, but didn't complain about their new captain. amidst the hubbub Killicia pulled Vangenta to the side. "Sail south, leave no trace. Creatures may be after you. I doubt you'll see me again, so do me this last favor?" "Anything Killy." "Never come here again, Vangenta. Never come close to Salamandastron. Don't listen to any ole searats who say there is tons of treasure there, 'cause there aint. Promise me this." The weasel nodded. "I'll leave you now Cap'n!" And with that she left.