Leading the Charge

[Robert Rosequill]

Robert looked to the beasts around himself who anxiously awaited his orders.

"What's our next move?"

The words bounced around inside of Robert's head as he turned towards the beasts around him. Slave, Waverunner, and mongoose all stared back, their eyes fixed on him as they awaited the hedgehog's orders. In the crowd, he caught Colonel Swiftpaw's eyes, the hare giving him a nod in assurance. Robert returned it.

"Right," Robert said, turning quickly to where Chak stood beside him. "The firs? thing we need to do is make sure that everybeast too weak for fightin? are taken somewhere safe. Plink showed me a tunnel in the latrines back in the slave quarters that I think might lead out o' this rock. I?d say we jus? get them there an? they?ll be fine. Chak, you were with those pirates, you know if?n there are any more slaves still in here?"

The otter nodded. "Aye, Rob. The poor sods in the iron mine still need 'elp."

?Alright, then.? Robert said. ?Chak, you an? Hylan go find them poor souls an? save them. Then bring everybeast to the tunnel.?

Hylan spoke up in contest. "Now why do I need to follow Chak? I have as much reason as anybeast here to go after Blade!"

"Aye, that you do, mate," Robert began,"but Chak cain't free any slaves by himself while he's luggin a cart around. An' aside from that, they need to see a fellow slave to know this's for real, an' there ain't nobeast better'n you for that."

Hylan started to fight back once more, but then nodded in understanding.

?An? what abou? ye?? Chak cut in.

Robert gave the otter a wink. "I got a plan, don't worry." The hedgehog paused and turned to address the crowd of beasts before him. "It's time we stopped Blade, once an' for all. And I'm gonna be the one t' lead the charge through this mountain until we find that blasted villain! If there's anybeast who's willing to fight by my side, be they former slave, mongoose, or Waverunner, then follow me. We?ll rid the seas o? that scum for good!?

The beasts cheered, shaking their paws and weapons in the air. One by one the beasts stepped forward, brandishing whatever they had as they joined the hedgehog. Robert watched as even Swiftpaw joined in the fervor, snatching a saber from the corpse of a fallen pirate. The hare looked at Robert, a familiar fighting spirit finally returning to the colonel?s eyes.

As the beasts clambered about readying for action around the hedgehog, Robert looked to Chak.

?Good luck, mate,? Chak said with a brief nod. "Mayhaps we'll meet up wi' ye on the other end." The otter grabbed the handles of his cart and motioned for Hylan to follow him down the tunnels.

Robert turned back to the horde of beasts before him, searching through them until he found Crue. ?Miss Crue, I don? know these tunnels, you know them better?n me.?

?Well, not by that much, Robert,? the squirrelmaid replied.

?Even still, do you have any idea where Blade might be holed up??

The healer paused, obviously racking her brain thinking about the question until realization eventually lit her features. "There's a chance he might be in or near his office. It's back a ways, but I believe I could find my way there."

Robert gave a hearty laugh. "Heh heh heh! Well then, consider yourself an honorary navigator, Crue, 'cause I'm goin? to be needin? ya to lead the way for us."

The squirrel hurried ahead of the crowd, motioning to the mongooses to follow as she led the way through the dark tunnels. Robert followed closely behind. It wasn?t long before the group neared the end of the tunnel, with a gang of pirates waiting for them.

Robert grimaced, drawing his cutlass and preparing himself for battle.

~~**~~

The morning was a breezy one, filling the port with the smell of seafoam rather than its usual offering of dank fish smells. Robert took this as a good sign, barely able to contain an enormous grin as he stood in the recruitment line with other eager beasts. The hedgehog was bouncing on his heels, knocking his tiny knapsack against his quills as he waited his turn.

?Next!? shouted a recruiter, prompting Robert to enthusiastically bound his way to the nearest open table. He was awaited by an older hare, scribbling notes onto documents and papers neatly ordered in front of him.

?Name?? he asked, not looking up from his work, a bored tone weighing down his words.

?Robert Rosequill, sir!? replied the excited young hedgehog.

?And what position were ye applyin? for, Rosequill??

?Well sir, I was hopin? to follow in me father?s footsteps an? be a navigator. I?ve been helpin? him for a few seasons now wit? maps an? star charts an? such, so. . .?

The hare cut Robert off, waving his paw. ?We already got ourselves a navigator, it?s one of the first positions filled. Ain?t no sense in hirin? beasts off the streets for such an essential post. . .?

Robert nodded, a little too eagerly. ?Aye, an? that be makin? sense, it?s jus? I was hopin? to maybe learn under who you already have, you know? So?s I can get a head start on learnin? the ropes. I?m hopin? to be navigatin? a vessel of me own someday. . .?

The hare cut him off once more, a hint of irritation seeping into his bored tone. ?Lad, ain?t no use for an apprenticeship, this is a Waverunner vessel. We ain?t just sailing for the fun of it. There are pirates out there we?ve got to deal with. Now either apply for somethin? else or stop wastin? my time an? head on back home.?

Robert swallowed. He knew it would be weeks, maybe even months before he got another chance. ?Aye, it?s alright, I can do jus? about any job you be needin? me to, sir! Ain?t no problem with me, so long as I get to sail, heh heh heh!?

?Well I?m glad to hear it. Like I said, pirates are the scourge of the seas nowadays, and so we?re always prepared for a few more soldiers to join the ranks. So how about it then, lad? Can you fight??

Robert?s heart sank a little. ?Er, well, I?ve gotten into a couple o? tussles with me brothers now and again, but. . .I ain?t never hurt nobeast. It ain?t particularly in me nature to if I were to be honest, sir. Me father always told us ?there ain?t no beast that?s expendable, be they vermin or no?, an? I ain?t seen no reason to believe otherwise.?

The hare nodded, looking back down to his papers. ?That?s unfortunate to hear, lad, ?cause if you?re gonna sail, you?re gonna fight. Ain?t no way around that, whether you?re a navigator or a swabby. That?s jus? the truth of it.?

The young hedgehog froze for a moment. His heart was racing.

?Lad, I?m gonna need you to step aside for the rest of the line. . .?

?I?ll do it!? Robert shouted nervously. Glancing around, trying to hide his embarrassment, he repeated himself. ?I?ll do it. Sign me up as a soldier, sir.?

The recruiter cocked an eyebrow, then nodded. ?Good to hear, lad. Welcome aboard, Private Rosequill.?

~~**~~

?Auugh!? a rat screamed as Robert pierced his heart. The hedgehog let the poor beast slide off the blade, then swung around to strike at a nearby stoat. He was smiling as he dodged Robert's swing, then came at him with a cutlass of his own. Robert made an ugly frown at the beast, preparing for the pirate's incoming onslaught.

He parried the stoat's blow, watching as the beast grunted heavily from the exertion. Robert took his chance, feinting a stab at the beast's eyes then instead slicing for the pirate's throat when he tried to block. Winning the trade, Robert fell back to let the beast die as he began to scan for more pirates. It wasn't long before he found one slashing into a poor vole, laughing as the beast fell slain to the ground.

Pirates. They've never stopped lovin' what they do.

As Robert quickly silenced the beast's laugh, he found himself thinking of Plink.

This ain't no place for a lass like her. All this murder an' bloodshed. . .she don' belong here. No, she needs a family. A real family.

Robert stopped where he stood, his sword arm falling to his side.

"Robert, Blade's office is just over there!"

Crue's cries rattled the hedgehog from his thoughts. Finding focus once more, the hedgehog turned and shouted to the other beasts, raising his cutlass high. "Aye then, lads! Finish 'em off an' we can go for our real enemy!"

Another cheer erupting from his fighters, the last of the pirates were handled, and the group made their way to Blade's quarters. Robert rushed ahead of the crowd, running alonside Crue. The squirrelmaid acknowledged him, then muttered to him under her breath, so none of the otherbeasts could hear.

"Do you think you can do it, Robert?" she asked. "Kill Blade?"

Robert looked at her with stone cold eyes. ?Aye. I can. Today I told the slaves that there ain't nothin' stronger an' scarier than a beast with nothin' to lose but, while I've been fightin', I realized that I lied to 'em." His mind wandering to Violet and Maribel, knowing he may never see them again. "There is somethin' stronger, Crue. And that's a beast who has everythin' to lose."

The two continued in determined silence on their way to Blade's room. As they neared, Robert began to feel anxious. There weren't any more pirates in their way. No one was guarding the captain's room.

Robert's fears were realized once they reached an open door, to a room that was empty.

"Well, this is his room," Crue muttered, visibly upset.

Robert frowned. Signalling the other beasts, the group began scanning around the vacant chamber. While Robert looked, a flash of red by the door caught his eye. Walking over, the hedgehog found a red sash laying on the ground, folded neatly. Mocking him.

"Blade was on to us," Robert growled. "He ain't here."

"Smart gott," Dekeft cut in, snatching the sash from the hedgehog's hands.

"He cain't be too far gone though," Robert said, to no one in particular.

"Oi, i've found sumfin strange o'er here!" shouted an otter near a bookcase lining the wall.

Robert rushed to see what the otter was pointing at. The bookcase was cracked along its side. Robert began to pull it, but it wouldn't budge. The otter lent him a paw, and toppled the case over, revealing a hidden tunnel. Robert swiveled his head back to the crowd of anxious beasts. "He must've escaped through here."

"The harbor!" Crue suddenly shouted, slapping a paw to her forehead. "I figured he was planning on leaving the island. I should have thought of that first!"

"Then we gotta be gettin' there quick now!" Robert stated urgently. The hedgehog turned to Frederick, who was staring at the tunnel through a narrowed gaze. "Fred!"

"Aye, Rob, you need me?" the hare responded.

"Aye, we be needin' you to grab a few o' these beasts an' chase after him through there, maybe even catch him or at least get him out o' there. I know you ain't goin' to have trouble with that." Frederick nodded with a smile. Robert then turned to face the other beasts, raising his voice. "The rest o' us will go an' head him off at the harbor!"

The crowd roared with fervor, bustling about the room in a mad dash towards harbor. Robert followed behind just as determined.

We'll get you yet, Blade. Jus' you wait.