Chapter 13

The next morning, the Vtcoah were completely lost. The tracker, Spegg, had no idea where they were, and because of this, she had been demoted, and Browntail had replaced the ferret. All of a sudden, a stoat swaggered into camp, immediately setting Skorret on guard.

"Who are ye, and why are ye here, stoat?"

"It's not just me, weasel." The stoat whistled, and immediately the bushes around the Vtcoah camp were bristling with spears and pikes.

"As for who I am, Browntail should know."

"Huh, why should he know?"

"Because I once served under Blueback, Chieftain of the Group of Runaway Vermin in Mossflower, also known as the Gorvim," said Browntail.

"Until you deserted."

Browntail suddenly started shaking.

"A-a-a-aye, I-I-I d-d-deserted."

"And you know what that means, don't you?"

"N-no I-I-I d-don't."

"It means this happens."

Blueback shot out his paw, which was holding a rapier, into Browntail's stomach. Browntail stared stupidly at the rapier, now buried in his chest, and died without a sound.

The Vtcoah, minus Skorret, stared at Blueback, amazed.

"He knew I'd find him, but he deserted. He saw me kill the rat Ripnose, and knew how willing I was to kill deserters, and yet he deserted. This was because some vermin are stupid enough to think they can outrun me and my Gorvim. I think that that fox, right there, is one of those vermin. What is that fox's name?"

"Norrig," said Skorret.

"This Norrig may seem big and stupid, but I know that Browntail has taught him many things. For example, I know that Browntail taught him what hares are, and that Salamandastron was once an active volcano, did he not?"

Norrig nodded wordlessly.

"An' wot does that have ter do with ye invadin' my camp an' killin' a stoat fer no reason?"

"Were you even listening? I clearly stated that he deserted my Gorvim, so I killed him. Now, get the mud out of your ears and listen. I want to form a partnership between the Vtcoah and the Gorvim, so we share joint leadership of this horde. Then, we can go and overthrow Rukkar, so then we have nearly two thousand vermin under our command. Finally, we conquer all of Mossflower using the great power of the Gorvim."

"Gorvim? I say Vtcoah, not Group of Rotten Vittles in Marshlands."

"Gorvim is better than Vtcoah, and if you think otherwise, then I'll chop you to ribbons with my rapier. "

Skorret made a sudden move with his sword, but Blueback disarmed him with a quick flick of his rapier.

"You want to fight, so you're dead? Go on, then."

"Nah, I don't want to die, rather you then me."

"You think you can kill me? The only way I'll die is of old age."

"Fine, I'll join the Group of Rotten Vittles in Marshlands."

"Don't call it that, or I'll flay your hide to rags."

"Yes, sir, now what, sir, where should we go, sir?"

"You have a point, we should get going," said Blueback, ignoring the mockery.

"Yes, sir, right away, sir. Spegg! Yer a tracker again, so git goin'!"

Spegg scuttled off quickly.

"Deadpaw! Yolrin! Git the horde an' march, after Spegg."

"Aye, Chief," chorused Deadpaw the fox and Yolrin the weasel.

"Well, you're definitely an idiot," said Blueback.

"Wot do ye mean, I'm an idiot?"

"You just sent your horde in the direction of a swamp."

"So?"

"Listen."

Skorret listened closely and heard the faint cries of Spegg the tracker drowning.

"That's why."

"Horde! March this way, not into the swamp like that idiot said!"

The horde turned around slowly and began to march. Skorret was left at the back, stewing.

"I'll get ye someday, stoat. Someday when yer not expectin' it, I'll get ye!"