Author Notes: Ohla! I'd like to thank all the nice people out there *waves
at nice people* for their reviews. In this chapter, Cluny was kinda OoC and
IC at the same time. I know that sounds REALLY confusing, but it'll make
since once you read. ^__~
DISCLAIMER: Redwall and Cluny belong to Brian Jacques. *cry* Blade, Vega, and the plot are mine.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Chapter II: The Familiar Blade
*****
Vega gaped openly at the magnificent vessel before them. . .even Cluny let out a soft whistle. The ship they were to sail on was indeed impressive. It had a black mahogany hull with the name S.S. Firefang painted in gold on the side. The upper deck was made of rich, deep brown, maple wood. A sturdy mast rose high into the air. Crisp white canvas sails hung from the durable rope rigging and contrasted sharply with the dark colors of the rest of the ship. Most seabeasts only dreamed of riding a vessel like this.
"Do you approve of it?" Lord Carouss's messenger ferret asked, though the question was unnecessary. "And these," he continued gesturing to a bedraggled line of about eight or so slaves, "are your cargo."
Cluny glanced along the row of chained creatures. There were two black panthers, one male badger, two falcons - how rare - an otter-maid, a female hare, and. . .a mouse. The mouse-maid's eyes were piercing amber. Though her brown fur was disheveled, and her pale gray tunic was in shambles, she had an air of dignity about her that the sea rat found particularly unnerving. There was something about her. Cluny could have sworn he'd met this mouse before, but he knew this was the first time he had ever laid eyes on her.
"If you have any questions, kindly direct them to your lookout," the Chief Messenger said, interrupting the Scourge's thoughts and pointing to another ferret on his right.
Then he left without further ado. Once he was out of sight, Cluny glanced over at the mouse again and felt another shiver run down his spine, but he didn't understand why.
Regarding his new lookout, the sea rat asked softly, "Who is that mouse?"
The tan ferret gazed up, "Ya mean that slave? She calls 'erself 'Blade', and she's a real troublemaker, quite rebellious as I'm sure you'll find out. I got them slave handlers keepin' a close eye on that 'un."
The Scourge nodded, but he just couldn't shake the sense of familiarity that hit him every time he looked at Blade.
"So," the lookout began tentatively, not wanting to incur his new leader's wrath, "my name is Redeye. Shall I show ye 'round the ship, er, Cap'n?"
Vega nudged Cluny and winked mischievously.
"That would be a good idea," the sea rat agreed.
~~~
Cluny rolled his one eye in exasperation. Redeye had droned on and on about the ship for over half an hour, and it was really beginning to grate the Scourge's naturally thin patience.
". . .and the last stop is the cargo bay," Redeye continued in his usual monotone. "This is where them slaves is bein' kept. Baneclaw the weasel is the main crewbeast in charge of 'em."
"I'll wait up here," Vega stated solemnly, the distaste in his voice easily detectable.
Their ferret guide merely shrugged, replied, "Suit yerself," and led Cluny down a small set of stairs.
Before the two corsairs, a brave thing began to happen. Baneclaw had his whip out and was getting ready to use it on the male panther slave. Suddenly, the mouse-maid, Blade, was in front of the cat protecting him.
"Move," the weasel slaver commanded.
"No," the mouse hissed softly.
Baneclaw's eyes widened, and he growled menacingly, "What did you say t' me?"
Blade drew herself up to her full height - which wasn't very much - and stated more clearly, "I said, NO!"
The black weasel pulled the leather whip upward, and Cluny felt his stomach tighten unpleasantly with apprehension. He knew what was coming next.
//So what?// The Scourge asked himself. //Why does it matter to me if some puny mouse gets a beating? The little wretch is pretty much askin' for it.//
The whip hurled down in an abrupt sweep. Because of the heavy chains, the strange mouse-maid couldn't even defend herself.
CRACK!
The whip came down again, and the mouse attempted to shield her head and shoulders with her arms.
SNAP!
Cluny winced involuntarily. Why did he care?
WHACK!
Blade screwed her eyes shut, but she didn't let even the smallest of whimpers escape her mouth.
WHAP!
Tears beaded at the corners of the maid's eyes. The weasel leered cruelly and drew the whip back for another strike.
CRACK!
There was a shriek of pain but it wasn't from the mouse, it had come from Baneclaw who now lay huddled on the deck clutching the back of his head. Cluny whipped his tail around, prepared to attack the unfortunate weasel again.
"You stupid, blundering, idiot!" the Scourge roared. "Don't you know anything about handling slaves? If you beat a creature - particularly a weak little mouse - with that much enthusiasm, you could permanently cripple 'em. . .possibly even kill 'em. When you need to punish a slave, just starve it. That method's more effective anyway.
Cluny whirled around and sighed inwardly. That had been a pretty good speech considering he had just made the whole thing up. As the sea rat started back for the main deck, he caught the mouse-maid's fiery, amber eyes. She nodded slightly in thanks. Cluny snarled at her and climbed the stairs, thrashing his tail behind him.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
More Notes: Thank you for reading (please review). If anyone can guess Blade's identity, I will include the name of that jolly clever beast in my Author Notes. Each reviewer gets one bally chance at it. Good luck, old chaps!
DISCLAIMER: Redwall and Cluny belong to Brian Jacques. *cry* Blade, Vega, and the plot are mine.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Chapter II: The Familiar Blade
*****
Vega gaped openly at the magnificent vessel before them. . .even Cluny let out a soft whistle. The ship they were to sail on was indeed impressive. It had a black mahogany hull with the name S.S. Firefang painted in gold on the side. The upper deck was made of rich, deep brown, maple wood. A sturdy mast rose high into the air. Crisp white canvas sails hung from the durable rope rigging and contrasted sharply with the dark colors of the rest of the ship. Most seabeasts only dreamed of riding a vessel like this.
"Do you approve of it?" Lord Carouss's messenger ferret asked, though the question was unnecessary. "And these," he continued gesturing to a bedraggled line of about eight or so slaves, "are your cargo."
Cluny glanced along the row of chained creatures. There were two black panthers, one male badger, two falcons - how rare - an otter-maid, a female hare, and. . .a mouse. The mouse-maid's eyes were piercing amber. Though her brown fur was disheveled, and her pale gray tunic was in shambles, she had an air of dignity about her that the sea rat found particularly unnerving. There was something about her. Cluny could have sworn he'd met this mouse before, but he knew this was the first time he had ever laid eyes on her.
"If you have any questions, kindly direct them to your lookout," the Chief Messenger said, interrupting the Scourge's thoughts and pointing to another ferret on his right.
Then he left without further ado. Once he was out of sight, Cluny glanced over at the mouse again and felt another shiver run down his spine, but he didn't understand why.
Regarding his new lookout, the sea rat asked softly, "Who is that mouse?"
The tan ferret gazed up, "Ya mean that slave? She calls 'erself 'Blade', and she's a real troublemaker, quite rebellious as I'm sure you'll find out. I got them slave handlers keepin' a close eye on that 'un."
The Scourge nodded, but he just couldn't shake the sense of familiarity that hit him every time he looked at Blade.
"So," the lookout began tentatively, not wanting to incur his new leader's wrath, "my name is Redeye. Shall I show ye 'round the ship, er, Cap'n?"
Vega nudged Cluny and winked mischievously.
"That would be a good idea," the sea rat agreed.
~~~
Cluny rolled his one eye in exasperation. Redeye had droned on and on about the ship for over half an hour, and it was really beginning to grate the Scourge's naturally thin patience.
". . .and the last stop is the cargo bay," Redeye continued in his usual monotone. "This is where them slaves is bein' kept. Baneclaw the weasel is the main crewbeast in charge of 'em."
"I'll wait up here," Vega stated solemnly, the distaste in his voice easily detectable.
Their ferret guide merely shrugged, replied, "Suit yerself," and led Cluny down a small set of stairs.
Before the two corsairs, a brave thing began to happen. Baneclaw had his whip out and was getting ready to use it on the male panther slave. Suddenly, the mouse-maid, Blade, was in front of the cat protecting him.
"Move," the weasel slaver commanded.
"No," the mouse hissed softly.
Baneclaw's eyes widened, and he growled menacingly, "What did you say t' me?"
Blade drew herself up to her full height - which wasn't very much - and stated more clearly, "I said, NO!"
The black weasel pulled the leather whip upward, and Cluny felt his stomach tighten unpleasantly with apprehension. He knew what was coming next.
//So what?// The Scourge asked himself. //Why does it matter to me if some puny mouse gets a beating? The little wretch is pretty much askin' for it.//
The whip hurled down in an abrupt sweep. Because of the heavy chains, the strange mouse-maid couldn't even defend herself.
CRACK!
The whip came down again, and the mouse attempted to shield her head and shoulders with her arms.
SNAP!
Cluny winced involuntarily. Why did he care?
WHACK!
Blade screwed her eyes shut, but she didn't let even the smallest of whimpers escape her mouth.
WHAP!
Tears beaded at the corners of the maid's eyes. The weasel leered cruelly and drew the whip back for another strike.
CRACK!
There was a shriek of pain but it wasn't from the mouse, it had come from Baneclaw who now lay huddled on the deck clutching the back of his head. Cluny whipped his tail around, prepared to attack the unfortunate weasel again.
"You stupid, blundering, idiot!" the Scourge roared. "Don't you know anything about handling slaves? If you beat a creature - particularly a weak little mouse - with that much enthusiasm, you could permanently cripple 'em. . .possibly even kill 'em. When you need to punish a slave, just starve it. That method's more effective anyway.
Cluny whirled around and sighed inwardly. That had been a pretty good speech considering he had just made the whole thing up. As the sea rat started back for the main deck, he caught the mouse-maid's fiery, amber eyes. She nodded slightly in thanks. Cluny snarled at her and climbed the stairs, thrashing his tail behind him.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
More Notes: Thank you for reading (please review). If anyone can guess Blade's identity, I will include the name of that jolly clever beast in my Author Notes. Each reviewer gets one bally chance at it. Good luck, old chaps!