Birchleaf and Lucar, who were not comfortable among the procession, had stayed in the fortress. Lucar looked out the window as the procession dispersed, and the officers began walking back to the fort. The young mouse sighed and turned from the window. "They've laid him to rest."

Birchleaf looked up. Her eyes were filled with sadness. "Do you think we should have been there?" Lucar shook his head.

"I don't think so. We would have been intruders on the island's grief." He looked out the window again. Ryon led the officers. They were almost at the gate. Lucar turned from the window again. He sighed again. They both sat together in silence for a long while.

The sound of the door opening made both of them jump. Ryon walked in, shutting the door behind him. Though he was dry-eyed now, both Lucar and Birchleaf could see tear tracks on his face. Ryon took Lucar's sword, which was lying on the nightstand, and drew it, eyeing the blade. He sighed. "Beautiful, yet so deadly." He sheathed the blade. "Much like the sea."

"How so?" Birchleaf asked with a questioning look.

"On most days it sparkles, calm except for the tide and the waves out in the open. But it can also be deadly, because of the storms, sharks, and many other hazards that are there. Sea captains take risks when they decide to be sailors. They have to be careful of these things." He bowed to them both. "If you will excuse me, I will now retire."

He walked out of the room and shut the door. As soon as he was out of earshot of the door, Ryon turned to Sharpear, who was passing him in the hallway. "I want everybeast on full alert. I don't know why, but I think something's about to happen. Call out every guard and ready the ballistae."

The mouse saluted and went towards the guardhouse. Ryon leaned on the parapets briefly, lingering on a rhyme that the warrior mouse Martin had just told him.

The island of Vale

Is no longer a haven

And the sea vermin's hail

Will strike the young and the craven.

Defend your island,

Master of Seas,

And heed the wisdom

Behind your young friend's pleas.

Ryon shook his head. That was why he had ordered the guards out. The Sea Hordes would attack soon. And he wanted to be ready.

Blacktail stood at the bow of the Pikeshaft. The stoat narrowed his eyes, and beckoned to Fleapaw. "Is the fleet assembled?"

Fleapaw nodded. "Yes, Overlord. There is no sign of anchorage or defenses on the outside, but there is a channel, narrow enough for only one ship to go through at a time."

Blacktail smirked. "Good. Order all but four of our ships to patrol the outer rock. The rest, the Pikeshaft included, will go through the channel." The stoat turned to the two newest captains. Nittail and Tickear, two ferrets, were now masters of ships. Sarga and Darkpaw's bodies were at the bottom of the sea. "Nittail, take the Gutcutter and go in first. Tickear, take the Plunderer in after him. The Pikeshaft will go in after you."

Both ferrets saluted. They got into longboats and went back to their ships. Blackpaw turned back to Vale Island. He missed his chance to destroy the resistance completely, but they would still cut off the head.

Ryon was at the window of his room, watching dark clouds roll in. There was no smell of rain, however. Soon the moonlight would be blocked out. Ryon turned to a guard. "Tell Sharpear to light torches around the fortress."

The guard saluted and left. Ryon turned back to the window, but a few minutes later left his room, a boarding axe and his saber at his belt.

Lucar and Birchleaf were watching the clouds as well. Lucar looked at Birchleaf. "Do you think it'll rain?"

The squirrelmaid shook her head. "No. There's no smell of it. But the air is heavy. Like something is going to happen."

Ryon and Sharpear walked side by side along the walls of Vale Island's fortress. Ryon was anxiously looking into the bay. Sharpear noticed. "Anxious, Cap'n?"

Ryon nodded. "Aye. I think we should move all the creatures that aren't fighting beasts into the fortress."

Sharpear was puzzled but sent a nearby guard to do so. He looked up at the sky. "Ghastly weather."

Ryon nodded again. "Bleak. Bleak indeed." He noticed a loud crashing noise. As a whistling filled the air, he pulled Sharpear down, roaring "We're under attack! Return fire!"

Yay! More cliffhangers! R and R!