6. Schemes.
Among the things that helped Ubel Fireeyes in gaining and maintaining the reputation of the Seer among Seers were his perceptiveness and sharp senses. In particular, his hearing was uncanny. And now too he heard that somebeast descends into his dungeon under the tower of the Seacrag Castle, when that creature was still at the upper part of the stairs. The visitor was alone, so it was not hard for Ubel to deduce that a messenger is sent for him, probably by Kunas himself. The King nowadays almost always had Captain Yellowfang follow him, when leaving his chambers, and his step was far heavier too. Other beasts didn't dare to visit Ubel's lair, unless commanded.
And for good reasons. Even before Ubel, this was a dismal and frightening collection of low-ceilinged underground rooms, which often served as a prison, and sometimes as a torture chamber to various lords of the castle. Now it became far worse. Grisly trophies decorating the walls, even more terrifying in uneven, flickering red light of torches and lamps; light so dim that corners of every room drowned in shadows and most beasts were forced to strain their eyes; instruments of pain intermixed with bizarre amulets and fetishes; air thick with smoke and befouled by a strange, sour scent – that already was enough to unnerve even callous vermin soldiers. And the owner of this dark pit was not a beast whom most of them were eager to meet, of course. But there was something else too. Or at least nearly everybeast believed there was. Many of those who went down to the Seer's lair because of one errand or another, swore later, that it was an unearthly place, where they felt freezing even in the heat of midsummer, being watched from every shadow or touched by something akin to invisible cobwebs. And the slave that the albino ferret once picked as his personal servant to help him with cleaning and other menial chores, the most broken, listless and mechanically obedient mousemaid in the castle, jumped from the highest castle wall onto the rocks below after less than two moons. A few beasts insisted that it all was just imaginations running wild and mundane cruelty. Most were convinced that Ubel's dungeon is the doorstep of Hellgates itself.
So it was not surprising, that the messenger's paw was uncertain when knocking on the dungeon's door. Ubel, of course, could have opened the door before the messenger even reached it, but the albino ferret was not keen on revealing how good his senses were.
"Who needs me?" He asked after opening the door and finding a female weasel soldier on the doorstep.
The weasel bowed nervously. "The Great King summons you, Master. He commanded you to come right away."
Ubel paused for a second before answering. The day was still fresh and this early in the morning Kunas was usually asleep, or trying to alleviate his hangover from yesterday by swilling down more ale and wine. What this unexpected summon could mean? Did the King finally remembered Ubel's risky promise clearly enough?
Regardless of his guesses, refusing the King was not an option. So he simply answered. "I'm coming."
Somewhat contrary to these words, the albino ferret spent half a minute picking his foxhide cloak and belt, from which many pouches with tools of his trade hanged, as did the only weapon he normally carried – a thin, needle-pointed dagger. He had an ulterior motive for not rushing too much, beyond keeping appropriate dignity; something was intriguing about the weasel's reactions, so while pretending to pay no attention to her, he was watching her with at least one eye as he dressed, missing nothing. No doubt – while obviously scared, this soldier was also morbidly fascinated, trying to steal a look of curiosity at the ghastly scenery and Ubel himself whenever she thought the albino ferret is not seeing her. Ubel made a mental note to learn more about this one. A beast not scared out of her wits by his presence and his workplace had the potential to be either dangerous or useful. But that could wait for the next day. Unlike the King.
When Ubel walked into the King's chamber, he realized instantly that things are as bad as he feared. Kunas looked disheveled, but sober. Ubel preferred to see his lord drunk. Of course, Kunas was an ill-tempered drunkard, but when sober he now was no less prone to rages, yet considerably harder to fool. The King, by nature, had capable mind and despite his best attempts to drown it in wine, it still surfaced occasionally. All four captains of the King's army were in the chamber too. Yellowfang was standing besides the King's wooden throne, as usual. Rugger the Black was slouching in a large chair trimming his claws with a small dagger and looking very bored. Eikeru Manybattles, a large black female rat bearing marks of numerous weapons and fangs on her hide, was at the table gnawing on a roasted seagull leg. And Ulakhai Stonestrength was here too pacing back and forth across the chamber. While Yellowang and Rugger weren't your typical vermin officers by any measure, Ulakhai was the most extraordinary captain among the four. A beast of a mysterious breed from a faraway land, unknown even to searats, he most resembled a weasel, but no weasels in the known world had such thick ochre fur, such long, thick tail or such mighty stature as him! And Kunas' oldest surviving offspring, Kopek, was present as well, although in what obviously was supposed to be a council he was about as useful or important as Yellowfang – while physically almost as big as his father, he was not blessed with much in the way of talent or valor.
No great genius was required to see that being the last beast invited on the council meant disfavor. The last couple of season Kunas usually just commanded Ubel to gather the captains, whenever he wanted to talk or feast with them. On the other paw, the fact that Ubel was not yet seized by guards, indicated that for now the King just wanted to demonstrate his ire. So the albino ferret bowed deeply, and announced:
"My King, I, Ubel, am here to serve you on your council as always."
"Oh, I'm so sure you are." Responded Kunas scornfully. After denying himself the pleasant haze of intoxication, he hated the world in general, and now Ubel was the focal point of his spite. "So, my faithful Seer, I seem to remember that you offered your own head, if you fail to deliver me that of the Ghost before the first snow. Now tell us all, what plan you surely have to save your neck from meeting my axe!"
Ubel smiled inwardly. He was preparing for exactly this, of course, and, thanks Vulpuz, the King didn't start getting the same suspicions about his promise that Rugger did. Kunas, perhaps, got too used to his obedience. After all, they were together since the times when they both were young, and the pine marten brothers, Kunas and Mirgas, just gathered their own tiny gang of raiders. All these seasnos Kunas commanded and Ubel advised, Kunas led and Ubel followed, inseparably like a shadow. Now that long history of loyalty played into Ubel's paw.
"Of course, Your Ferocity. I must admit that my humble plan is not anything we have not tried before, for if I could invent a better plan to catch Ewalt the Ghost, and let you, O Great Slayer, sleep at night without any more worries, I would propose it sooner. But now I have omens that tell me – we will succeed this time. Mayhaps those mercenaries managed to wound Ewalt and make him an easier quarry. So that is what we should do…"
As Ubel finished his explanations the king clasped his paws before himself, eyeing him skeptically. The pine marten looked from one of his captains to another, before barking. "Rugger! What do you think of this "plan"?"
Invisibly to all, Ubel's heart sped up a bit. His recently-established hold on Rugger was very tenuous, after all, and a momentary cruel impulse could make the half-crazed black fox turn on him.
But Rugger just shrugged not even changing his pose. "You know me, and you know I always said that this pasty charlatan here just fools you all with his "omens", and "visions" and "sorceries". But why not try? Ewalt will not catch himself if we just sit on our tails in the castle. Maybe his luck is going to run out this time."
Kunas listened to the black fox, disregarding his insolent manners, then looked slowly around the chamber, still undecided, clearly waiting if any of the other captains has something to add.
At that moment Kopek, who sat besides his father's wooden throne, trying to look regal, as befitted a heir apparent, spoke. "This is just grasping at straws! Omens or no omens, only an addle-brain can comb the woods for the Ghost again, after we failed so many times. Why should I command this stupid, pointless hunt, father?"
"Why?!" Kunas snarled, his face twisted with such rage, when he turned to his son, that Kopek froze in terror, unable to say a word. "You lice-ridden coward! Fate itself promises to send my greatest foe into your paws, great glory awaits you, and you get weak in the knees? You will do as Ubel says, you will lead the hunt, or I'll flay your fur off your back myself! Hellsteeth and worms, why grave took so many of my kin and spawn, and left me you?!"
The captains barely held their chuckles or, in case of Rugger, not even tried to. None of them liked Kopek. Ubel remained unperturbed outwardly, but inside he was beaming with glee. Truly, Fate and its Lord favored him today. It was no secret that Kopek was not the bravest of beasts, and King Kunas instantly figured out that he is simply afraid to go after the dreaded Ghost. Kopek also clearly was not the smartest, else he would have realized that his father lives in fear of the Ghost himself, and will lash out at anyone who shows the same fear openly, particularly when there is even a glimmer of hope to finally bring the warrior mouse down. And now it was a given that the King will accept Ubel's plan – by speaking at the wrong moment Kopek ensured what he wanted to prevent!
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Across the ground covered by fallen leaves Ewalt still moved in practically perfect silence, without a slightest rustle, like a literal ghost we was believed to be by superstitious vermin. And seeing him was not much easier than hearing him, for he wove his way from one good hiding spot among trees and undergrowth to another with practiced ease. His own eyes and ears, meanwhile, missed little.
However, even he couldn't spot anything suspicious around the rat he tailed. There weren't any hidden assassins following him, no spies or trackers watching his path. Unless they were even better at sneaking than Ewalt, and Ewalt had yet to meet anybeast who was. No armed party appeared to meet the rat either. He was meandering around the forest, seemingly searching for mushrooms and whatever other grub could be found in this season, just like his excuse for being here in the thicket was. Late in the day, when he turned back towards the castle, Ewalt decided that it is the time to leave him be. All seemed to be going according to Marroch's plan.
Ewalt could move fast through the forest too, when he wanted. And he caught up with Marroch before the sun sank below the horizon completely. The ferret sat next to a small campfire that produced little smoke, cooking his rather scant supper. Ewalt smiled inwardly, when Marroch completely failed to notice his approach. But Ewalt had to admit that while the ferret warlord was a pretty poor scout, he excelled at disguise. Ewalt himself probably would not suspect that this ferret – dirty, crooked, limping around with a stick, garbed in shapeless rags, with shaking paws and a bad eye, which refused to open – was Marroch. Not without examining him up close. To patrols and foragers of Kunas's army that could be encountered in these parts, he was just your usual old vagabond. Many vermin tribes chased away beasts who were too old and infirm for fighting, and it was widely considered bad luck to kill one of those walking dead, or even to talk with one of them. Marroch couldn't choose a better appearance to avoid being bothered.
Ewalt was tempted hard to try and scare the ferret by appearing right behind his back, even though he knew that will be petty, rather than practical. But instead he just walked into the opening, where Marroch could see him. "How's the food?"
Marroch did not move, but his fake old beast's mannerisms disappeared the instant Ewalt revealed himself. "No better than this morning. How's my spy?"
Ewalt walked to the small fire, sat on the other side of it from Marroch, and picked one of the small twigs, on which the ferret was roasting girolles to supplement their meager travel rations of nuts and dried fish, before saying. "All is clear. As far as I can say. And what news he brought you?"
Marroch answered dispassionately. "Kunas plans a big sweep of the woods on the next full moon. To smoke out me, surely, to catch you, if he can, and to round up everybeast else, whom he might have missed. Most of his army will go, even his son and most of his captains. This is exactly the chance I hoped for. Now we won't even need to lure him into sending the army away. If we can get past the castle walls, there will be just threescore of his personal guard and one scabby cat between us and Kunas."
Ewalt took his time, chewing on a mushroom and thinking, before finally speaking. "I don't like this. I don't trust traitors. You don't trust him yourself. You can't be sure your pet rat is not ratting you out to Kunas?"
"Is there any of our kind, whom you trust?" Marroch asked, sounding colder than usual, and when Ewalt just shrugged he continued. "Thought so. And I'll tell you again: don't hold me for a fool. I considered every possibility, sending you to watch him was just in case. What Kunas stands to gain from playing such games, instead of just sending his trackers to catch me today, knowing where I am? Besides, who do you think told me, that Kunas hired the best trackers this side of the ocean to catch you, and in what direction they went? Yozash, this very spy. Kunas would never order him to do that – he hates you more than me, probably more than anything. If some other beast in the castle, who wants Kunas dead, is behind this, well, what he's going to do when I take the castle and control the bay? The main army will be outside of the walls. And once Kunas is done for, his captains probably will be at each other's throats within a day, rather than fighting me."
"That's if your force is enough to take the castle."
"It will be more than enough, if you and Rowanbloom do your next job. So start putting your mind to that and stop doubting my plan at every turn. You swore to follow me as a warrior who follows his warlord, until our revenge is complete. Act like it."
"Should I scratch your back or lick dirt off your footpaws too?" Ewalt said venomously. "I'll do what you command, no worries, but what sort of a warlord prefers to command unthinking nitwits?"
Marroch remained unperturbed, at least visibly. "If you want me to ask your advice, try offering some. Any fool can grumble and doubt."
This rebuke gave Ewalt pause. Mostly because it was true.
"Aye." The mouse paused for a few seconds to bite and chew. "I'm going to sleep first. Wake me up at midnight, will take the second watch."
The ferret did not disagree, so Ewalt was fast asleep before Marroch even finished his part of the meal. The ferret envied that a bit. He still remained nervous in Ewalt's company. He hid it well, but he couldn't fool his own mind, and so it took him a long time to drift into slumber with Ewalt watching over him. Either the mouse warrior was just so much braver, or, compared to his many lonely nights as a hunted beast in the woods, company of any ally seemed safe, however untrustworthy that ally was.
"Or maybe this mouse underestimates just how untrustworthy I am," concluded Marroch in his thoughts.