CHAPTER SIX: AT KOTIR
Verduaga Greeneyes stood on a pile of rubble, arms folded and scarlet cloak fluttering slightly in the night breezes. He watched silently as his army dashed around, repairing broken stone and replacing rotten doors. Since there were so many vermin, the work was getting done very quickly. There were advantages to having so vast a force.
His Captain of the Guard, a tall ferret called Chokepaw, marched up and saluted. He wore the normal attire of one of the wildcat's soldiers, which consisted of a heavy forest green tunic with a chainmail vest over it, belted at the waist. A metal plate was attached to the front of the chainmail vest in the middle of the chest area, and on it was engraved the symbol of the Thousand Eyes, Verduaga's mark. As a Captain, Chokepaw also wore a blue cloak as a mark of rank, more for decoration than anything else.
Verduaga's emerald-hued eyes shifted to his Captain and shone eerily in the light of the torch the ferret was holding. "How goes it?" His voice was not rough, nor did it give one the impression that he was growling, yet the undertone of menace made Chokepaw's neckfur stand on end.
The ferret waved a paw toward the old castle. "Lord, the initial repairwork is done. As time passes we can strengthen the walls and pay attention to minor details."
The wildcat continued to stare unblinkingly at his Captain. "And the interior?"
Chokepaw had never seen a beast who could go as long without blinking as Verduaga. He tried to ignore his apprehension and replied smartly, "The structure has held up to time well, Milord. Inside we only had to replace a few doors and do some minor repairs. Then we can begin building furniture, for it's pretty empty in there."
Verduaga's eyes left Chokepaw for a moment and scanned the army, finally resting on two stoats. "Those two – Scarfang and Roughback – get them and give them a tent canvas and some dyes. Tell them to make a tapestry with my likeness, and be sure to mention that their lives depend on its quality. Tomorrow, you can send patrols into the forest to look for wood to make furniture."
The ferret Captain bowed low and set off to do his master's bidding.
Lord Greeneyes turned his head and stared into the dark woodlands. Arms still folded, he extended and retracted his claws a few times. "Heh heh heh, soon you weak little woodlanders will be under my claws," he chuckled with a half-growl.
Verduaga Greeneyes stood on a pile of rubble, arms folded and scarlet cloak fluttering slightly in the night breezes. He watched silently as his army dashed around, repairing broken stone and replacing rotten doors. Since there were so many vermin, the work was getting done very quickly. There were advantages to having so vast a force.
His Captain of the Guard, a tall ferret called Chokepaw, marched up and saluted. He wore the normal attire of one of the wildcat's soldiers, which consisted of a heavy forest green tunic with a chainmail vest over it, belted at the waist. A metal plate was attached to the front of the chainmail vest in the middle of the chest area, and on it was engraved the symbol of the Thousand Eyes, Verduaga's mark. As a Captain, Chokepaw also wore a blue cloak as a mark of rank, more for decoration than anything else.
Verduaga's emerald-hued eyes shifted to his Captain and shone eerily in the light of the torch the ferret was holding. "How goes it?" His voice was not rough, nor did it give one the impression that he was growling, yet the undertone of menace made Chokepaw's neckfur stand on end.
The ferret waved a paw toward the old castle. "Lord, the initial repairwork is done. As time passes we can strengthen the walls and pay attention to minor details."
The wildcat continued to stare unblinkingly at his Captain. "And the interior?"
Chokepaw had never seen a beast who could go as long without blinking as Verduaga. He tried to ignore his apprehension and replied smartly, "The structure has held up to time well, Milord. Inside we only had to replace a few doors and do some minor repairs. Then we can begin building furniture, for it's pretty empty in there."
Verduaga's eyes left Chokepaw for a moment and scanned the army, finally resting on two stoats. "Those two – Scarfang and Roughback – get them and give them a tent canvas and some dyes. Tell them to make a tapestry with my likeness, and be sure to mention that their lives depend on its quality. Tomorrow, you can send patrols into the forest to look for wood to make furniture."
The ferret Captain bowed low and set off to do his master's bidding.
Lord Greeneyes turned his head and stared into the dark woodlands. Arms still folded, he extended and retracted his claws a few times. "Heh heh heh, soon you weak little woodlanders will be under my claws," he chuckled with a half-growl.