Chapter 14
The Mossflower Patrollers and the Guosim had finally made it to the river, by just going down stream they would rezch their destination. Sam looked at the clear sparklng body of water. The squirrelmaiden jouned him.
"Hey, I didn't catch your name, what is it?"
The female squirrel bobbed down and did a curtsy.
"My name is Honeycomb, nice to meet you."
"My name is Sam, nice to meet you."
They both saw the Guosim building their signature logboats, they're handiwork was astonishing, fine craftsmanship for anybeast in Mossflower. It took a while but the wait was worth it. Five large logboats, able to fit five to six beasts at a boat.
"It is ready to set sail."
Flugg told everybeast. Without any second thoughts, everyone boarded a logboat, with oars, and all. Sam accompanied Flugg's, along with Elmtail, Harlan, and Honeycomb. The rest occupied the other four. The boats bobbed in the water, knowing that squirrels were accustomed for the water. Sam and the other land mammals stumbled, a few of them fell on all fours, or on their bottoms. Some of the Guosim members chuckled at their comrades. Sam with his patrol simply scoffed it off and got back up.
While Sam and the Mossflower Patrol crossed the river to Salamandastron, Orlando and Alvadian were getting ready to make a trade with Sibo and Tavadar. Orlando wore the steel armor of Salamandstron past down from generations to generations.
"Ready?"
"Yes sir!"
The Long Patrol cried out.
"Good, then let's move out."
Orlando and General Alvadian marched their hares out of the mountain, they were armed to the teeth. Spears, pikes, swords, sabres, rapiers, axes of both single and double headed, bows and arrows, and slings. They hiked down the mountain to the beached ship of the Corsairs. Sibo saw Orlando marching his armies down, he called out to one of his wavebeasts, the wavebeast sounded a bell to alert the others. The badger of the mountain and his hares made a semicircle around the Corsairs' and their ship. Sibo and Tavadar stood facing Orlando and Alvadian. It was time to make the exchange.
"I want my hare."
"I want my mountain."
Responded Sibo. Orlando nodded, he drew his axe, but carefully lowered it to the sand. Sibo made a smug grin. He slightly turned to Tavadar.
"Get the rabbit."
Tavadar nodded and jogged to the ship. As Tavadar went to Harlee's cell, he was greeted to a surprise: the cell was empty. Tavadar ran up to the deck and was shouting.
"Escape! Escape! Alarm!"
Sibo turned suddenly to Tavadar, confusion struck his face. The seabeast was too preoccupied with what Tavadar was doing, Orlando jumped at the chance and grabbed his weapon. The hares all picked their weapons up and charged at the seabeasts. Orlando rushed towards Sibo, however, Sibo could hear the stomping footpaws of Orlando, he turned around dramatically and dodged the first swing from Orlando. He took off running back to his Captain's quarters.
"You slimy coward! Eulalia!"
Orlando cried out. Alvadian pointed his sabre forward.
"Let's give 'em blood and vinegar, wot!"
"Yes sir!"
The hares began to storm the Corsairs, a great battle ensued. Rabbits, rats, ferrets, weasels, and stoats clashed weapons with each other. Tavadar watched from a top the ship, he drew his mace and chain. He ran down the ship's ramp, awaiting him was Harlee. Harlee readied himself and he whacked the searat hard with a large plank. Tavadar spun and fell face first on the shore. Harlee wasn't finished with Tavadar. He turned him on his back and started punching the rat multiple times in the face. Harlee kept punching his adversary until blood appeared on the hare's fist. Harlee stood up and spat on the unconscious rat.
"Never mess with a Salamandstron hare."
He said to the rat lying on the ground. Harlee turned his attention to Orlando and his fighters.
"Lord Orlando, I am alright!"
He called out, the hare started to run towards his comrades. However, something else was destined to happen. Tavadar jumped up and drew a dagger from his belt, the cowardly vermin lunged at the hare and stabbed the beast in the side.
"How does that feel?"
He taunted. Harlee turned to his adversary and choked out his final words.
"How.. did you... recover so quickly?!"
Tavadar chuckled at him.
"I'm a Corsair, sere tough as nails and hard as steel."
"Li-ar."
Harlee sharply whispered before dying. Harlee's corpse slide of the blade and it hit the soft sandy beach. Sibo ran out of his quarters with his cutlass, the weasel then ran down the ramp and joined his brethern in battle. Sibo rushed towards Orlando, he sprang towards Orlando and tried to hack and slash at Orlando, he was nothing to Orlando. The badger wapped the side of the seabeast's head with the handle of axe. He called out to Alvadian.
"Alvadian, were going to need to make a tactical retreat!"
"Why sir, there are more of us than them?"
"I have a sneaking suspicion that more vermin will be here soon, grab Harlee and let's get out of here!"
Alvadian nodded and ordered the more young and stronger hares to go across the battlefield and retrieve Harlee's carcass.
Xaviel and his horde discovered the dead and mangled bodies of Ferrdann's trackers. He looked upon them with disgust. Filthy beasts deserved filthy deaths. They continued forward and resumed their persue of Sam.