Chapter Eighteen: Plans and Anticipation
There was a faint tremble in Lieutenant Scaplax's voice as he spoke quietly with Siduri Star-of-Dusk on board the Sayladar.
"You know where Captain Morgan is? And the rest of them? P-please, tell me all you know!"
Siduri nodded and quietly informed Scaplax of the island's ruler, Chief Mooneyes, and his odd ferret tribe. She explained Chief Mooneyes' deep-rooted paranoia of an invasion, and that his fear of his peaceful island being torn apart by conquerors is not entirely unfounded. The Sayladar's crew, according to the vixen, just happened to be unfortunate enough to raise Mooneyes' hackles by creeping around his kingdom like spies.
Scaplax was nervous and edgy the entire time, and only until Siduri explained that Morgan and the rest of his crew were unharmed, being held captive on the beach by Mooneyes. Siduri knew that Mooneyes was paranoid but not bloodthirsty, and would not harm the prisoners without reason, and they all should still be safe. Sighing heavily, Scaplax spoke again.
"It is a relief to hear they are all alive... Why hasn't Chief Mooneyes attacked our ship yet?"
Siduri thought a moment, and shrugged.
"He is aware of its presence, but somehow I think he may be afraid of your ship. The technology of conquerors is still a conqueror, and mayhap Mooneyes wants no part of it..."
"Alright... then what can we do about Captain Morgan?"
"The Chief and his tribe fear Ashmoon and I... We shall go to Mooneyes and request your friends back. If that fails, then we will have to come up with something more complex..."
Scaplax nodded, thinking. He was doubtful that the great ferret Chief would simply let the corsair crew return to their ship on the vixen's request, but it was the only idea they had at the moment. It was worth a try. Siduri watched the fox Lieutenant carefully, her dark eyes glimmering with a flicker of sapphire flame. The thoughtful silence was quickly stomped out by the clunking of the twins' boots. Kolya and Kuzma looked very uneasy.
"Errm, Lieutenant, sir, the ship..."
"Has gotten much closer. It's clear they've seen us and..."
"Are headed this way deliberately. They'll..."
"Be here in less than an hour!"
Scaplax swallowed hard, then nodded determinedly.
"Then let's all be on deck to meet them..."
The ferret twins threw hasty salutes, then scrambled off to drag everybeast up out of the hold and onto the deck. With that accomplished, perhaps the Sayladar could appear fully crewed, warding off any aggression from the incoming ship. Scaplax and Siduri moved to face seaward, leaning against the deck rail with anticipation. Brilik and Sandstar joined them, then a few more beasts, until the deck seemed to be substantially filled. The Lieutenant squinted slightly against the last fading lights of the daystar upon the calm ocean. Sure enough, the ghostly image of a ship hovered over the sunlit waters, moving surprisingly fast. Scaplax could discern it was a light, sleek ship, probably powered by both oars and sails.
Kolya and Kuzma returned, taking their own places at the deck rail. Kuzma chewed nervously on a claw, while Kolya busied himself absentmindedly digging his claws into the railing. The deck of the Sayladar was oppressively silent, the cooling evening air felt choking and thick. There was nothing to do but wait.
There was a faint tremble in Lieutenant Scaplax's voice as he spoke quietly with Siduri Star-of-Dusk on board the Sayladar.
"You know where Captain Morgan is? And the rest of them? P-please, tell me all you know!"
Siduri nodded and quietly informed Scaplax of the island's ruler, Chief Mooneyes, and his odd ferret tribe. She explained Chief Mooneyes' deep-rooted paranoia of an invasion, and that his fear of his peaceful island being torn apart by conquerors is not entirely unfounded. The Sayladar's crew, according to the vixen, just happened to be unfortunate enough to raise Mooneyes' hackles by creeping around his kingdom like spies.
Scaplax was nervous and edgy the entire time, and only until Siduri explained that Morgan and the rest of his crew were unharmed, being held captive on the beach by Mooneyes. Siduri knew that Mooneyes was paranoid but not bloodthirsty, and would not harm the prisoners without reason, and they all should still be safe. Sighing heavily, Scaplax spoke again.
"It is a relief to hear they are all alive... Why hasn't Chief Mooneyes attacked our ship yet?"
Siduri thought a moment, and shrugged.
"He is aware of its presence, but somehow I think he may be afraid of your ship. The technology of conquerors is still a conqueror, and mayhap Mooneyes wants no part of it..."
"Alright... then what can we do about Captain Morgan?"
"The Chief and his tribe fear Ashmoon and I... We shall go to Mooneyes and request your friends back. If that fails, then we will have to come up with something more complex..."
Scaplax nodded, thinking. He was doubtful that the great ferret Chief would simply let the corsair crew return to their ship on the vixen's request, but it was the only idea they had at the moment. It was worth a try. Siduri watched the fox Lieutenant carefully, her dark eyes glimmering with a flicker of sapphire flame. The thoughtful silence was quickly stomped out by the clunking of the twins' boots. Kolya and Kuzma looked very uneasy.
"Errm, Lieutenant, sir, the ship..."
"Has gotten much closer. It's clear they've seen us and..."
"Are headed this way deliberately. They'll..."
"Be here in less than an hour!"
Scaplax swallowed hard, then nodded determinedly.
"Then let's all be on deck to meet them..."
The ferret twins threw hasty salutes, then scrambled off to drag everybeast up out of the hold and onto the deck. With that accomplished, perhaps the Sayladar could appear fully crewed, warding off any aggression from the incoming ship. Scaplax and Siduri moved to face seaward, leaning against the deck rail with anticipation. Brilik and Sandstar joined them, then a few more beasts, until the deck seemed to be substantially filled. The Lieutenant squinted slightly against the last fading lights of the daystar upon the calm ocean. Sure enough, the ghostly image of a ship hovered over the sunlit waters, moving surprisingly fast. Scaplax could discern it was a light, sleek ship, probably powered by both oars and sails.
Kolya and Kuzma returned, taking their own places at the deck rail. Kuzma chewed nervously on a claw, while Kolya busied himself absentmindedly digging his claws into the railing. The deck of the Sayladar was oppressively silent, the cooling evening air felt choking and thick. There was nothing to do but wait.