Rat-Baiting

[Cricket Argyll]

The Big Evil was right outside. Strike that?a Big Evil was right outside, but this one was a dirty, off-white color. Cricket performed a shivering dance Wakeeha would have been proud of as three voices rose and the sun began her final descent toward the horizon. It all seemed a little overly-dramatic as Silus and Ulrick shared a very brief, and to Cricket?s ears, pointless conversation.

The little rat?s eyes were not for the males, though, but for Tassle. What the mustelid perceived as outright fear, the rodent knew to be anger. Pure and bubbling bile oozing from the shrewmaid as she practically breathed fire in the direction of the smoosh-faced fox. There was fear there, too, of course. Some of those shakes and quakes were jittery nerves and a not quite steady paw, but the majority of them were outrage.

At whom these roiling emotions were directed, Cricket did not care. Knowing that there was sufficient heat radiating from the woodlander to fry an egg was enough. Directing those feelings would prove the trick and standing up on the walls, staring down at the monster on the other side made it much trickier.

The rat left the battlements shaky, but still aware that there was little the Big Evil could presently do to them if all she had heard was true. Ashira?s death was more surprise than shock considering the lady ferret had appeared more indestructible than plate armor. Broo-haha?s survival after Ashira?s death was the shock. For some half-hearted, fat dirt-eater to survive was stupid compared to a strong, healthy ferretess.

Tch! Cookie always said the Fates had a sick sense o?humor, Cricket thought peevishly as the howling faded and the camp sprung to life around her. Vermin ran to and fro, some following orders, but most probably just looking for a place to hide?and then there were the rats.

The piebald maid glanced over at the tight-knit pack of islanders who clustered themselves behind Wakeeha and Obligo. Her paw reached unconsciously for the ladle shoved through her rope belt when she locked eyes with the shaman, but then she forced it and herself to stop. A fox holding a crude wooden shield and walking behind her suddenly tripped and cursed her before carrying on hurriedly. Cricket paid him no mind, a few thoughts locking into place and a plan forming.

Silus ain?t gonna ?preciate me tellin? on him, she realized. The weasel?s wrath generally ended in death for the creature on the receiving end. At least with Cookie he was more likely to keep her around for the services she could provide, but what use was a sneaky child to a sneaky adult? Silus had all the contacts and stealth he needed and with Ulrick on his side, the brute force, as well. When they got off the island or were rescued, what sort of life would an orphan who snitched on the leader of the shipwrecked victims have? I ain?t gonna be a slave!

And what of this group here? The island rats were of no real use to anybeast?more of an annoyance or threat depending on how much power they had in a given situation. She rubbed her chest where the ropes had bound her to the pole with Tassle little more than a day ago. They tried t?kill me. But what would the crew do to her once they returned to the empire? ?Exitution?

She had seen those with her mother in the streets. Chopping off her head would be the most pleasant way to go if they even waited until land. If they chose to exitute you on a ship you got dragged under it by your tail from one end to the other and came up looking like a million daggers just ran through you. And if the Fates saw fit to have you alive at that point?you got to experience it all over again until you lost so much blood they could skin you and call the meat jerky.

That would not be happening to Cricket Argyll. Bloody blue blazes, no!

What to do then? What if?what if I?m the on?y ?un left from the crew when help arrives? she wondered, beginning to walk toward the wary island rats. Or what if?the Big Evil don?t bother me no more ?cause I showed it I?m awful sorry ?bout runnin? away when it tried t?eat me?

There were more than enough vermin in the Empire. A ship or so would not be missed. Maybe Doctor Lowri if the rumors were true, but the marten locked himself away in his office so much he might as well not be part of the crew. Doctor Lowri would be her bargaining chip aboard any rescue ship. He was the only necessary body. Everyone else?Sacrifices. Chiichiirrup!

-----

?Make me yer queen, Whacky,? Cricket demanded quietly of Wakeeha without preamble. Some creatures up on the battlements were shouting. Perhaps conversing with the Big Evil. Tryin? t?make a deal?! Her heart skipped a beat. Gotta move quick.

?What?? the shaman queried stupidly.

?Yer queen. Ya know?? she tried to picture Queen Salvastria back in the Empire from the parade she had been to a year ago, ?a leader with a big scepter an? clothes an? a fancy name an? stuff.?

?You want be shaman?? Obligo raised an eyebrow and when the piebald ratmaid nodded emphatically, he threw back his head and laughed. The rest of the island rats laughed with him, their squeaky snickers drawing the startled attention of some of the crew doing their best to ignore the battlements.

For her part, Cricket felt her ears turning red. ?Shut up, ya bag-eyed midgets!? she snarled, whipping out Cookie?s ladle and bashing the rat nearest Wakeeha over the head. The islander slumped to the ground unconscious and the squeaking stopped. Presently, it became apparent that each and every one of the rats carried a wooden spear with a stone head. The younger vermin stepped back, intimidated, but tried to hide it. Wakeeha smirked knowingly, anyway, before turning her attention elsewhere when another howl sounded.

?Need more. Meal gone. Need more blood?? she mumbled. Before the shaman could start her, by now redundant, jig, Cricket moved to strike her with the ladle despite her fear of becoming a pincushion. She had to prove she was a fearless queen. Violence was the only thing anybeast could ever appreciate fully, it se--

?Oof!? The little ratmaid felt the blow from Wakeeha?s staff before she saw it. The shaman leered at the winded child, shaking a gnarled claw back and forth as if chastising a wayward dibbun. Somehow, the old bat had whacked her in the stomach before Cricket was able to smack her over her ugly, tattered head.

?Queen? Hah!? Obligo sneered. ?Not fit to be sacrifice even. Too small.?

?I ain?t through with ya,? Cricket hissed, standing with some difficulty and replacing her ladle as she retreated. ?Stay there!? Like they got anywhere else t?go with the crew watchin? ?em? All the same, the thought that they would appear to obey her, even if they did not, was comforting.

-----

?Spikey?I need yer?help,? the words were as grudging as Tassle?s had been when asking for assistance to bury Kelsey.

Tassle, Brooga, and Roger, grouped together and looking for suitable weapons and plotting something, probably, stared at the rat, incredulity written across all three of their faces. ?I need yer help?now!? Cricket spat. ?S?important!? An? now fer the carrot. Cheh! ?I think I found a way off the island that don?t involve the crew.? Well, it does in a round ?bout way, she reflected, but not one these lumps fer brains would care ?bout.

?We already have plans of our own in the works, Cricket,? Tassle rolled her eyes. She seemed to be doing that a lot around the young vermin these days. ?And if you hadn?t noticed, there?s a wolf outside the door that has friends around the island. We?re too busy for your childish ga--Hey!? The shrewmaid found herself being half-dragged toward the exit from the great hall to the courtyard, but jerked free with some difficulty.

Cricket and Tassle stood and glared daggers at each other several long seconds. ?If this is another one of your lies?? the shrew began.

Ugh! Not this again. She pointed blatantly at Ulrick?s back. The lumbering badger was picking through the discarded weapons pile, probably trying to find something with which to bludgeon the ratmaid. Tassle followed the paw with her eyes. They did not speak because it was not necessary.

?C?mon Broog, Roger,? Tassle called softly to the mole and mouse. Let?s see how they like it when I got minions o? my own standin? around an? starin? all creepy-like! Cricket led the unusual quartet out to where the island rats waited?obediently.

-----

?Bo hurr,? Brooga whined. ?Are ?ee sure ?ee shudd be ?oldin? that dagger s?close to ?is throat, Miz Tassle??

?Should be closer,? Cricket and Tassle replied in unison and both snorted in disgust. The shrew held her rusty weapon to Obligo?s throat while Cricket stood opposite to Wakeeha. None of the islanders were laughing any more.

?Make me yer queen or shaman or whatever!? Cricket demanded. Wakeeha took her staff in both paws and opened it revealing an antique metal dirk hidden by the deceptive sheath.

?There only one shaman in this tribe,? the old rat growled throatily. ?You bleed like all others. Fool child!? Wakeeha lunged and Cricket dodged to one side. She felt her tail was suddenly shorter and held back a scream. This was not like with Ulrick. Wakeeha was fast ?An? I ain?t the first t?challenge her like this. There must have been tens, more than tens, even more than more tens, over the century or so the shaman had held her place at the head of the tribe next to Obligo.

Wakeeha had experience and wisdom on her side to easily judge and defend against Cricket?s tactics. The piebald maid, on the other paw, had an apparent stupidity that rivaled Wakeeha?s cunning in such a battle. They were surrounded by island rats and a few of the crew who were not completely preoccupied with saving their own hides or doing Silus? bidding, so the young rodent did what she did best: made an absolute nuisance of herself.

As Wakeeha?s blade swung toward her again, Cricket rolled between the nearest pair of islanders and shoved them forward. The shaman cut through her tribemates without remorse. ?Sacrifices,? the older rat sneered and moved in for the attack again.

Cricket dodged among the other island rats who stood, unmoved by the display, and stared at her with narrowed eyes. Tch! Glad that stupid Obli-whats-it is gettin? the knife pressed t?his throat. She did not like the look of those spears one bit?except as maybe a weapon for herself!

The rat she bowled over and stole the spear from looked surprised, but did not try to retrieve his weapon. Wakeeha was silent in her pursuit, so Cricket risked a quick look behind and stopped. The shaman had not even followed. She stood in the center of the ring and smirked at the ratmaid. ?Hop away, little Cricket,? she cackled and turned as if retreating.

Incensed, Cricket took her newly acquired spear and chucked it haphazardly toward the object of her ire. It flew wide and Roger gave a frightened yelp, drawing closer to Brooga. ?Watch where you?re aiming!? Tassle chittered at her.

?Shut up!? the rodent seethed and shoved her way back to the circle, putting Cookie?s ladle away and pulling out her rope as she did. ?I?m doin? the best I can!? A bit of a lie considering she was now about to do her best. The smelly, fat-lipped old crone had not only chopped off a part of her tail, but also made fun of that detestably weak name. But it?s my name!

Wakeeha turned to face her, wry smile disappearing when she saw the new resolve in the child?s mismatched eyes. ?Ya want blood, Whacky?? Cricket growled. ?Use yer own!? She rushed forward and lashed out at the adult and smiled when Wakeeha did just as Ulrick had. The problem for Whacky, though, was that Cricket had learnt from that mistake and Ulrick was a heck of a lot stronger than some malnourished pygmy. Gotcha!

The rope coiled around the shaman?s staff and flew out of her paws when Cricket jerked on it. Momentarily shocked by this unexpected tactic and the loss of her favored weapon, the island rat stood still long enough for the young rat to get her mitts on the staff and swing its business end in a horizontal arc at Wakeeha?s face. She did not lose her head as Cricket was hoping, but did go blind thanks to the gaping wound oozing blood where the better part of her face had once been.

That set the crazy little vermin moving. Three jumped on Cricket?s back and pinned her down while a fourth centered his spear on the child?s head.

?Stop!? it was Obligo shouting along with Silus who had come down from the ramparts.

?What is going on here?? the weasel demanded coolly.

?Not shaman, but we listen,? the leader of the island rats continued as Tassle tickled his throat with her blade and Brooga stepped tentatively toward where a group of the rats were tending to Wakeeha. The old shaman was curiously quiet. Showed her. Showed all o?em! Chah! Try t?make fun o?my name an? I?ll take off yer face! ?Facestealer? Argyll? Maybe. She would have to think about that more later. For the time being.

?Sacrifice the crew t?the Big Evil,? Cricket commanded the islanders through Obligo, grinning as she stood up, no longer thinking about the significantly shorter tail still dripping red and likely to become infected without proper treatment. ?Kill ?em all!?

Silus scoffed along with a majority of the crew who rolled their eyes. They stopped dead when Obligo repeated: ?Kill all crew and sacrifice! Big Evil pleased.?

The rats streamed by, seeming to double in number from what Cricket originally thought were grouped around. They swarmed the creatures nearest to them and began stabbing. ?Chiichiirrup! Perfect! Perfect!?

Cricket laughed at the chaos, but went silent and numb a moment later. Oh, ?Gates?

Her plan and instructions had missed one small, important detail. The one creature that was the golden ticket on any rescue vessel?She hurried over to the slaves before they could start assisting the islanders in the battle.

?Doctor Lowri!? Cricket shouted over the noise. ?We gotta save that prissy marten if we ever wanna get rescued!? By ?we? she meant ?I? and the former slaves knew it. Let them know it. They would help her anyway. They had to. ?Chii?? There was still something to be happy about, at least.