In the rising light of the morning, the battle's effects loomed over the normally peaceful beach. The Battle on the Sand, or so it was dubbed, resulted in a Long Patrol victory, but at a heavy cost. Sergeant Jayfur was slain in the battle, having been taken down by Karranva's third-hand beast, Runko Bladeclaw. However, Karranva also did not survive. Surrounded by his captains, a wayward arrow managed to worm its way into the Cosair King's face.
Marfur, leading what was left of Karranva's force, sat on the prow of his ship, the Ragevel. Beside him was Runko Bladeclaw, having been promoted to right-hand beast after the death of Shacklenose.
"Well, 'tis a sorry sight, but 'twas nothing we could have done." Runko broke the silence.
"Aye." Marfur replied. He wasn't one of those crazy old corsairs who blamed everything against his crew. A loss to a badger lord was to be expected, even when victory seemed certain. Seeking revenge on the stripedog was certain death. Of course, hindsight is crystal clear in these waters.
"Well, what's next, me cap'n? Shall we sail into the open seas again?"
"Aye. We could sail nor'east, but we need to stay clear of that Terramort place. The king there doesn't take lightly to visitors and taxes Hellgates out of them."
Runko nodded. "Makes sense. Do I tell the others to get ready? We don't have anywhere else to go, cap'n."
Marfur nodded, answering his second-in-command. Whatever the future held for Marfur and his crew, Marfur resolved that he would be ready for it.
Asaral walked down to the docks, pushing aside a rat-sentry. "Hey, where are ya going?"
"Be quietch, vhis is zhe prince you are talking to." Asaral snarled. He was in an especially bad mood today; he had spent the previous night studying maps, charts, and books, in preparation for what he was about to do.
"Well a'hm on orders from the king to ask all visitors to the port their purpose." The rat sneered back.
"Zhe king hass sent me on zjuty to check the zhips and dockz."
"Well, I've not been informed of anything to do with the King's brother." The rat peered back, unconvinced.
"I am zhe king's brother. I know hiz orderz better than you do, rat."
"Very well, you may continue." The rat relented.
Asaral continued down the pier, preparing for what he was about to do.
There's an opening ahead of me. He slipped quietly past the ship guards, still hungover from late night festivities. He scampered up the ship Blacksail, making sure no one was inside and that there were provisions in the larder.
Suddenly, he was roused by the sound of a loud horn. Asaral cursed as he recognized the sound. Asaral cursed under his breath as he knew what it meant. It was the King's Patrol!
Altan had changed the date of the patrol on a whim - meaning that a large group of the King's soldiers would be marching past the docks in a couple seconds. Asaral quickly tried to cut the mooring ropes - he wasn't ready to leave so soon! As he furiously tried to cut through the thick cords, a bright glint caught the corner of his eye. His eyes widened as he turned around to see what appeared to be a mouse in shining armor.
Fwunk! The prince swiftly turned around, startled, to see that an arrow had embedded itself into the wood where his head had been a second before! He had been spotted! He turned back around, quickly cutting the last rope, and rolled below the railings, hiding from his brother's envoys.
"Get back here, you treazonous zcumm!" The prince could hear his brother's voice from the pier. To Asaral's horror, he then heard clamoring at the gangway below.
But the wind saved him this time. The sail, already unfurled in preparation for a diplomatic voyage, caught the wind, pushing the ship away from shore. Below him, he could hear a splash as a guard lost his balance and fell into the water.
Asaral rushed up to the tiller, steering it away from the shore. After a while, the former crown prince looked up to see the island he had called home gradually get smaller.
With a tear in his eye, he whispered into the wind.
"Goodbye, Terramort."
"Wake up, sleepyheads! We're on wall duty today."
I slept in.
Fwink felt a paw lift up his head as he found himself staring into the eyes of his father, Rusca. His fur had grayed significantly, but he still looked like his old self.
"Alright, alright, I'll be there. Lemme get my things ready and I'll be there sharp!"
As it turned out, Fwink was indeed quick to reach the wall top. Spooning mouthfuls of fresh porridge into his mouth, he sighed as he leaned against the parapet with his father.
After some time, Rusca spoke. "How's the past few weeks been? I haven't had a lot of time to talk to ya."
"It's been weird. We sent away Ledeya, and we did away with the vermin patrols, and it's all been so stressful. That's why I started going on morning walks with the abbess. She's a dear friend and it's great to be around her more and to catch up. We haven't really had a lot of time to talk, with her duties and everything."
Rusca nodded. "I'm still surprised at that young squirt of a ferret. You know me, I don't like vermin in any way shape or form, but she turned out to be a real mind-bender." Rusca chuckled. "Took me a while to convince myself she wasn't some sort of spy."
"Even with the letter from Sagaxus?
"Even with the letter. I'm glad that it's you who's the abbey champion and not me. You're more level-headed than me." Rusca paused before speaking again.
"I tasted the elderberries in the scones today. Jodd Fieldmouse's sweetheart told me that you 'n the Abbess picked them yesterday."
"Indeed. We went over to the berry patch yesterday. It's so peaceful to be picking them without having to manage thirty Dibbuns alongside you. I would've gone today too, but unfortunately I overslept."
Rusca nodded, seemingly deep in thought. "Anything been on yore mind lately?"
Fwink did not respond but instead unsheathed his sword. He stared into the sword, looking at his reflection.
"I sense danger in Mossflower." said the champion, in an unusually deep voice.
A small moment passed. Then suddenly, the reflection changed. A mouse in shining armor, seemingly glowing from his countenance, appeared in the blade. They whipped around, looking for the mouse in the sword.
Whishhh! An arrow whizzed by, passing through the space their heads had been a moment before.
"Hellgates! Vermin in Mossflower! Dad, get downstairs now and tell everyone - I'll stay out here and try to see who it is!" Fwink half-shouted, with tongue out of his mouth. Rusca nodded and raced down the stairs.
From his vantage point, Fwink could see the outline of several figures, probably ferrets, wearing tattoos and wielding bows. "Juska." he muttered to himself.
Whirring down the stairs, Rusca swept by Draka Spearback, who was on his way back from the kitchens to bring breakfast to the wall top. Rusca shot one look into his eyes and the hog understood. He calmly but firmly set down the tray and bounded up the stairs.
When Draka reached Fwink on the walltop, the abbey warrior was being bombarded by arrows, blocking them with his sword and ducking beneath the parapet. Draka reached for a weapon, but realized that he had brought none. Cursing under his breath, he reached down to pick up a fallen arrow and spiked it towards the bushes. Cries rang out as a tattooed stoat fell transfixed out of the bush. The Juska vermin retreated through the bush, leaving their comrade behind.
Taking a look at the tattoos of the fallen stoat from the top of the wall, the hedgehog noticed something was off. The stoat had a long red gash tattoo down his side.
"Young Firmpaw, that's no normal Juska Tribe, isn't it?"
The squirrel nodded. "Those are Juska from the north plateau. Explains why they attacked us - they don't know our reputation."
Draka concurred. "Shouldn't be too difficult to deal with - at most they probably number 30 beasts."
The abbey warrior agreed. "Aye, but still something don't seem right t'me." He paused as if to think. "Maybe we'll find out later."
"Aye, I think we will."
But Fwink still didn't feel completely sure.