The Javelin coasted over the sea, the waves in its path being reduced to spray that flew up into Ryon's face as the squirrel captain stood at the bow, mentally urging his ship on. Silver walked up next to him, watching the sun set over the horizon.
"Nothing you do will make the ship move faster, Ryon."
"I'm impatient, Silver. I have a feeling that I have to meet someone, and I'm anxious to get to them. Whoever they may be."
"We will get there. If they are expecting to meet us, I am sure that they will wait."
Ryon, whose eyes had not left the horizon, finally turned away. "You're right. We should be at Mossflower's southern shores in a matter of days. Four, if this wind holds."
"The sun is setting. You should get some rest."
Ryon nodded, and headed toward the stern to sleep off his anxiety. He may be anxious, but he wasn't stupid. He knew something important was about to happen. Something that would most likely change his life forever. Ryon sat awake for most of the night, polishing his saber and looking out the window of his cabin to see the moon, silver and full, shining onto the water. Ryon's eyelids drooped. The squirrel captain laid his head back on his bed, and fell asleep.
He did not know if it was a dream or not. He was sitting on his bed, his saber in his paws, in the exact same position that he had been in before settling back on the bed, but he felt an urge to walk. He got up and went out the door, absently belting on his sword as he walked out of the cabin and down through the decks, through rooms filled with sleeping crew members, and finally to the storerooms, where they kept food and drink. Ryon felt a sudden thirst. Pouring himself a beaker of water from the barrels against the back wall, he drank deeply. He was finishing the water when a voice caused him to drop the beaker. The vessel fell to the ground and shattered, its pieces spreading all over the floor.
"Captain Oakleaf."
Ryon drew his sword, holding it in front of him as he walked forward. There was a figure in the darkness, out of the circle of light provided by the lamp that swung from the ceiling. It was a mouse. Ryon moved forward, hooking the lantern on his sword as he came. "Silver?"
"No. I am not Silver, though I have visited him before you."
Ryon hooked the lantern onto another hook when he sensed that he was near the figure. The lantern swung on the hook, illuminating the warrior that had surprised him. A mouse was sitting on the stairs to the next deck, his figure cast into sharp relief by shadows when the lantern swung toward him. Ryon leveled his sword at the stranger, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. "Who are you?"
"I am Martin the Warrior. You have nothing to fear from me."
As the warrior had not attacked him, Ryon sheathed his saber. He sat down on another barrel, removing his hat as he spoke to the mouse, his now illuminated eyes reflecting light from the lantern. "How did you get on my ship?"
The mouse smiled, chuckled, and shook his head. "I have been on the Javelin for some time, waiting for an opportune moment to speak with you. The two creatures that you are so anxious to meet do not yet know you, but your enemy wishes to find you, and kill you and all who resist him."
"How?" Ryon's tail curled up and scratched his ears in puzzlement.
Martin leaned forward and grabbed the front of Ryon's shirt. The squirrel captain did not show fear as the mouse whispered fiercely into his face.
"With the enemy you have hunted for seasons is an armada great enough to conquer Mossflower and any other land that has the nerve to oppose him. He has set out to kill you, as you are the only beast to escape from him, but you have not heard of him, as you never heard him say his name."
"Who is he?"
"He is Blacktail the Overlord, leader of the Sea Hordes, and the beast that murdered your father."
Ryon's mind flew back to that terrible night. His father being stabbed, falling dying to the deck of the ship that had captured the Javelin. His mind then caught up with his age, and his eyes narrowed. "Where is he now? When is he going to attack? Tell me, Martin!"
The mouse held up his paws to calm the squirrel. "He will not move for a while yet. He is assembling more ships. You must unite the seas, and the Javelin will be at the front of the line."
He then spoke a rhyme.
Sailors, traders, seabeasts all,
Come and heed the goodbeast Call.
Face the foe that sails towards thee,
All the terrors of the sea.
Corsairs, searats, buccaneers
In fearsome garb wearing evil sneers.
Defend your kin with your heart and soul,
Or watch them die while you live whole.
Rally to the island Vale,
Make a war into a tale,
Sailors, traders, seabeasts all,
Come and heed the goodbeast Call.
Ryon arched an eyebrow, confused. "What does that mean?"
Martin smiled and shook his head. "You will learn. But at great cost to you."
The lantern went out. Ryon's eyes widened, and he fumbled about to get onto the deck, stubbing his paw on the staircase as he tried to find it. As he went to the second deck, where, oddly, the lantern was still lit, Ryon leaned against the wall, trying to take in what just happened. The squirrel captain suddenly felt dizzy. He staggered upward once more, through the second deck of the ship, and up onto the main deck. He shook his head, taking deep breaths until the dizziness subsided. Ryon then walked back into his cabin, flopped down on the bed, and fell asleep.
When the squirrel captain woke, the sun was streaming through the windows, and dappled the floorboards with shafts of bright light. Ryon woke up, and walked out onto the deck. The sails had been billowing all night, and the ship was still making good speed. Ryon went back into the cabin and looked at himself in a mirror. Dark circles hung over his eyes and the fur between his ears was rumpled. The squirrel shrugged indefinitely, put his hat on, and went outside once more. Silver walked out of his cabin, stretching. He nodded to Ryon and fell in beside him as he greeted him.
"Morning, Ryon. You look tired."
"I didn't sleep well last night, Silver."
He told him of the dream. Silver looked doubtful, wondering how anybeast would have gotten past the sentries. Everybeast on the ship was up by the time Ryon finished his tale, and the squirrel walked around the deck, issuing orders.
"Brace the foreyard! We can get more speed than this out of this wind! Run out the jib sail!"
A group of creatures complied with the orders, and the ship increased its speed, aided by the additional sail. Silver, who was steering, noticed a ship tailing them. He tapped Ryon on the shoulder, and pointed mutely. Ryon squinted at the ship, and his face hardened. He rapped out orders again.
"Come about, Silver. The rest of you, get to your stations on the second deck! Archers and slingers to your posts!"
The crew sprang into action, running below the deck or arming themselves with bows and slings. Ryon drew his saber. The coming battle would merely be a skirmish in a war of epic proportions.
Now that I look back on it some of these rhymes are horrible, even for me...that's why in my more recent Redwall stories there are no riddles. They'll all meet up next chapter, so try to contain yourselves. R and R!