Author Notes: Yay, chapter one is up, and it's way longer than the
prologue. (As promised.) Please R&R. . .I need something to bolster my ego.
=)
DISCLAIMER: Alas, Cluny, Redwall, etc. belong to Brian Jacques. But Vega, Nel Rocka, and the plot belong to me.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Chapter I: Job of a Slaver
*****
"Are you sure you're reading that map right?" Vega asked. "Besides, I thought you'd been here before."
Cluny rotated the map again, studying it with great scrutiny as he said, "First of all, I've only been here once, and second, that was about four or five seasons ago."
The healer fox glanced over at the map, "Mate, I think you still got it upside down. And - out of curiosity - please tell me again why we're here."
"Because," Cluny explained for what had to be the hundredth time, "Nel Rocka is the best coastal town in the area if you need a job. 'Specially if you know how to sail."
"If your memory isn't failing you, you'll remember that I haven't even seen a real boat, let alone sailed on one," the irritated healer argued.
Cluny grinned at the fox, "We'll soon change that."
"Excuse me, gentlemen, did I hear you say you were looking for work?"
Cluny and Vega turned to face a rather fat, brown ferret in a fancy sky- blue tunic and tan leather breaches, which only made his girth more obvious since the clothes were about two sizes too small. The ferret cleared his throat loudly and waited for an answer to his question.
"Who are you?" Cluny demanded, looking the stout ferret up and down.
"I, sir, am Chief Messenger for the great stoat warlord, Lord Carouss. He wants me to offer you and your partner a job overseeing the transportation of some slaves to one of his mightiest fortresses on the coast about a week's journey north of here."
The Scourge mulled over this offer, "I am not usually inclined to dealing with slaves, but I could make an exception. However, I have neither ship nor crew to conduct such a trip."
The over-weight ferret cleared his throat yet again - it seemed to be a bad habit - and reassured Cluny, "Everything is already taken care of. . .the ship, a crew of my master's soldiers, everything. Lord Carouss just wants the ideal captain to coordinate the voyage, and who's better than Cluny the Scourge?"
The sea rat nodded pensively, "I would be the ideal captain, after all I've had enough experience, but this seems like a bit much for a bunch of slaves. What aren't you telling me?"
The ferret wrung his hands nervously and muttered evasively, "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies." To change the subject, he added, "Can either of you guess how much money the Great Lord Carouss will offer you for your services?"
"How much?" the Scourge growled, not in the mood for guessing games or the stupid ferret's attempt at hiding something.
"F-fifty pounds of sa-sapphires, r-r-rubies, and d-diamonds," the ferret gulped.
The pitiful creature quailed under Cluny's murderous glare, and shifted uneasily from one footpaw to the other. The sea rat shook his head in distaste at the cringing excuse for a ferret. He then pulled Vega aside for a quick whispered conversation out of earshot of their soon-to-be- employer's lackey.
"Something fishy's going on here. That's way to much money to charge for slavers. Especially ones not affiliated with this Lord Carouss."
Vega nodded in agreement, "It's true, but we need this money. Hell, with that many jewels, we can buy our own ship and a crew to go with it."
"Then let's take this job. If things get sticky we can always bail," Cluny hissed under his breath.
Turning back around, the Scourge smiled falsely at the ferret, "Alright, you have yourself a captain and a first mate. . .but on one condition, I want two pounds of the fore-mentioned price up front."
"Of c-course," the cowardly messenger stammered, handing Cluny a brown leather bag as though he had anticipated this request.
The Scourge took the small pouch and poured a few of the jewels into the palm of his paw. He carefully looked them over, one at a time.
Once Cluny had finished inspecting the gemstones to make sure they were real, he put the bag of jewels inside his knapsack and inquired, "When do we set sail?"
The ferret started toward the direction of the docks and replied, "Immediately."
Vega grinned lopsidedly at his sea rat companion.
"I suppose we'd better go check out this ship. . .Captain."
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
More Notes: To those who care, you will meet the mouse-maid Blade in the next chapter. I've tried VERY hard not to make her into a Mary Sue. *grin*
DISCLAIMER: Alas, Cluny, Redwall, etc. belong to Brian Jacques. But Vega, Nel Rocka, and the plot belong to me.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Chapter I: Job of a Slaver
*****
"Are you sure you're reading that map right?" Vega asked. "Besides, I thought you'd been here before."
Cluny rotated the map again, studying it with great scrutiny as he said, "First of all, I've only been here once, and second, that was about four or five seasons ago."
The healer fox glanced over at the map, "Mate, I think you still got it upside down. And - out of curiosity - please tell me again why we're here."
"Because," Cluny explained for what had to be the hundredth time, "Nel Rocka is the best coastal town in the area if you need a job. 'Specially if you know how to sail."
"If your memory isn't failing you, you'll remember that I haven't even seen a real boat, let alone sailed on one," the irritated healer argued.
Cluny grinned at the fox, "We'll soon change that."
"Excuse me, gentlemen, did I hear you say you were looking for work?"
Cluny and Vega turned to face a rather fat, brown ferret in a fancy sky- blue tunic and tan leather breaches, which only made his girth more obvious since the clothes were about two sizes too small. The ferret cleared his throat loudly and waited for an answer to his question.
"Who are you?" Cluny demanded, looking the stout ferret up and down.
"I, sir, am Chief Messenger for the great stoat warlord, Lord Carouss. He wants me to offer you and your partner a job overseeing the transportation of some slaves to one of his mightiest fortresses on the coast about a week's journey north of here."
The Scourge mulled over this offer, "I am not usually inclined to dealing with slaves, but I could make an exception. However, I have neither ship nor crew to conduct such a trip."
The over-weight ferret cleared his throat yet again - it seemed to be a bad habit - and reassured Cluny, "Everything is already taken care of. . .the ship, a crew of my master's soldiers, everything. Lord Carouss just wants the ideal captain to coordinate the voyage, and who's better than Cluny the Scourge?"
The sea rat nodded pensively, "I would be the ideal captain, after all I've had enough experience, but this seems like a bit much for a bunch of slaves. What aren't you telling me?"
The ferret wrung his hands nervously and muttered evasively, "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies." To change the subject, he added, "Can either of you guess how much money the Great Lord Carouss will offer you for your services?"
"How much?" the Scourge growled, not in the mood for guessing games or the stupid ferret's attempt at hiding something.
"F-fifty pounds of sa-sapphires, r-r-rubies, and d-diamonds," the ferret gulped.
The pitiful creature quailed under Cluny's murderous glare, and shifted uneasily from one footpaw to the other. The sea rat shook his head in distaste at the cringing excuse for a ferret. He then pulled Vega aside for a quick whispered conversation out of earshot of their soon-to-be- employer's lackey.
"Something fishy's going on here. That's way to much money to charge for slavers. Especially ones not affiliated with this Lord Carouss."
Vega nodded in agreement, "It's true, but we need this money. Hell, with that many jewels, we can buy our own ship and a crew to go with it."
"Then let's take this job. If things get sticky we can always bail," Cluny hissed under his breath.
Turning back around, the Scourge smiled falsely at the ferret, "Alright, you have yourself a captain and a first mate. . .but on one condition, I want two pounds of the fore-mentioned price up front."
"Of c-course," the cowardly messenger stammered, handing Cluny a brown leather bag as though he had anticipated this request.
The Scourge took the small pouch and poured a few of the jewels into the palm of his paw. He carefully looked them over, one at a time.
Once Cluny had finished inspecting the gemstones to make sure they were real, he put the bag of jewels inside his knapsack and inquired, "When do we set sail?"
The ferret started toward the direction of the docks and replied, "Immediately."
Vega grinned lopsidedly at his sea rat companion.
"I suppose we'd better go check out this ship. . .Captain."
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
More Notes: To those who care, you will meet the mouse-maid Blade in the next chapter. I've tried VERY hard not to make her into a Mary Sue. *grin*