A small longboat approached the Pikeshaft. In it were the Captains Sarga and Darkpaw, who had survived the attack on Fort Hordebeach along with a small group of their crew. As they climbed aboard, Blacktail strode up to them. "I take it Hordebeach has been taken, then?"

Sarga nodded. "Aye, Overlord. They were burning the fort to the ground when we left."

Blacktail narrowed his eyes. "Why did you not come in your ships?"

"They were destroyed, sir."

Blacktail's paw clenched. He whirled on them, and the captains reared back as the stoat roared his fury at them, spraying their faces with spittle. "Fools! Half-wits! Bunglers! They have taken our only outpost in the Eastern Sea and you did nothing to stop them! You call yourselves captains? I wouldn't pick you two to scrub the bilges!" He struck Darkpaw a hard blow across the face. "You do not deserve to be in the Sea Hordes! You are lucky that the armada is almost done with repairs, otherwise I would have more time to humiliate you!" The stoat turned, and walked away. Darkpaw, rubbing the spot where Blacktail had backhanded him, muttered to himself. "It was dawn, they had fire arrows, they took us by surprise, and the squirrel was leading them. He didn' even give us time t' explain!"

Sarga shrugged. "It don' matter, mate. Overlord's aluss mad nowadays. 'Guess it's the squirrel."

Darkpaw nodded. "Aye, but it don' do proper to hit a cap'n."

Blacktail watched the exchange from his cabin window. Gesturing to two guards, he whispered in their ears. "Listen carefully. I want Sarga and Darkpaw taken care of. Poison them, and dump their bodies overboard. And do it right, or you will join them!"

The guards saluted and left the cabin. The stoat turned away from the door and smirked. He could not abide hapless captains.

The Vale Island navy sailed back to the island in a line. The Javelin came at the front, followed by the other ships. Ryon stood at his ship's prow, his eyes fixed on the setting sun. He had been in that position all day. Lucar and Birchleaf noticed.

Lucar felt sympathy for the squirrel. "Poor Ryon. Losing a friend that he's had since he was young."

Birchleaf nodded. "Maybe. We haven't seen Silver though. Shall we go look?"

Lucar nodded, and the pair set off. As they entered Silver's cabin, Birchleaf and Lucar hung their heads. The silver mouse's body was lying in state on his bed, dressed in a clean tunic and with his sword at his waist. A faint smile was on his face. Lucar spoke, feeling obliged to whisper in the solemn atmosphere. "He looks so peaceful."

Birchleaf nodded. "We'll reach the island by nightfall. They'll give him a hero's burial there."

"Come to speak to the dead?"

Birchleaf and Lucar whirled around. Ryon stood in the doorway, his eyes narrowed and his arms folded across his chest. Lucar spoke up. "We just wanted to see how he looked, Ryon."

The squirrel captain nodded silently. "Well, you've seen him. Kindly avoid this room until we make port."

The two nodded, and shuffled guiltily out of the room. Ryon sighed and looked into the sky. "Father," he murmured. "If you're up there, help me. Please."

Night fell. The navy had reached the island by then, and the ships were moored at the docks, the flags at half-mast as a solemn procession made its way through the village. The fort's bell rang slowly as islanders carrying lanterns walked slowly, surrounding a stretcher that carried Silver's body. The procession entered a cave, and the captains of the navy, as well as Sharpear and Blackreed, went on with Silver's bearers, for the mouse to be laid to rest. As Silver was laid on a small stone bed, Ryon took one last look at him. Moonlight from a circular hole in the ceiling shone on Silver's face, amplifying the color of the mouse's fur. Ryon then sighed, and walked out of the tomb.

A rock was placed over the entrance. Flowers, tokens of memory, and Silver's sword were placed at the foot of the rock. The blade would rust and eventually disintegrate. The memory of Silver, however, would not.

Now that I think about it, Hordebeach was a stupid name for a fort. R and R!