A Call to Arms (Ulrick Hammerpaw)

[Substitute Author]

You have nothing to lose but your chains!

The badger sat with his back to the wall, leaning his great striped head against the dry, dusty stonework. When the slaves had been dragged into this hall he had been left slightly apart from the others, the slavers fearing that the badger?s mere presence would incite some of the livelier captives to try some heroics.

Ulrick couldn?t care less for heroics. He?d seen enough over the seasons to know that heroes were all well and good, but the beast with the common sense usually lived longer. There was a nervous cough and Ulrick looked down to see one of the Fort Bladegirt rats waiting nervously with a crudely made wooden bowl in his paws.

?Stripyface would like to eat, yes?? He asked, offering the bowl to Ulrick. The badger took it and poked the unappetising looking contents with a claw. A few shrivelled fungi were hardly enough to make up for the many weeks of an oarslave?s diet.

?Mushrooms? Mushrooms!? He growled, picking one up and sniffing it. ?I wouldn?t be surprised if you grew them in your dungeons!?

The badger tossed the sorry looking mushroom into the air and snapped it up before it could fall to the ground. As unappetising as it was, it was still food, and possibly the best he?d get for a while. He didn?t imagine the rat had asked the crew?s permission before feeding the slaves. The rat?s eyes widened at the sight of Ulrick?s fearsome teeth and he scrambled away as quickly as he could, retreating through one of the side doors.

Ulrick watched the goings on between the other slaves with only mild interest as he polished off the rest of the mushrooms. He wondered as he finished the last one if the rat had meant him to share with the others, but they didn?t seem to have noticed. What they didn?t know wouldn?t hurt them, and as the largest slave his need was, after all, the greatest.

The badger leaned his head against the fire blackened wall again and closed his eyes. While they were chained up, what was there to do except wait? The crew would surely come up with some kind of plan to get off this accursed island. Then all he had to do was make sure he was included in their group.

Another quiet cough brought him back to the realities of the hall. Opening an eye, he looked down to see the shrew maid who had been sat a few rows in front of him on the ship. Ulrick had never bothered to introduce himself to the other slaves, but she seemed to know who he was.

"I need to talk to you,? she said evenly. "It's important."

Ulrick groaned softly and sat up straighter. ?Well little shrew, what is so important that you feel the need to wake me up for it??

The shrew maid looked slightly taken aback, as if surprised that he hadn?t grasped her meaning at once.

?Why, the most important thing of all, Sir!? she said furtively. ?Our freedom of course!?

Now it was Ulrick?s turn to look surprised. ?Freedom? What do you mean?? he asked in a low growl.

?Surely you want to be rid of these chains?? The shrew maid?s eyes gleamed with excitement. ?The others are willing, but they are looking to you to show them the way. If you can rise up and strike out at the vermin, they will know that their chance has come to escape these bonds and regain their freedom!?

Ulrick nodded slowly. An idealist then. I?ve met them before too. ?And which others are there in your band of freedom fighters?? he asked.

"Gud day zurr badger." A mole had appeared, as if on cue. "Naow, Oi don't know what mizz Tassle's told 'ee, but Oi'd loike to tell 'ee a few woirds of moi own."

So that makes two. Ulrick looked around at some of the other slaves, trying to figure out their potential. Amongst others there was a vole, a rabbit and most interestingly, a stoat chained up. Apart from them there was a motley collection of half starved woodlanders, just strong enough to row.

?Zurr, would 'ee please 'elp us?? asked the mole. ?We don't 'arve much of a plan yet, but if'n 'ee were with us, we'd know what we could plan. Oi carn't imagine that 'ee want to stay chained up f'rever, and we'd both be gurtly 'appy if'n 'ee'd 'elp us."

Ulrick nodded again. The mole spoke sensibly. After all, if he was to get off the island, first he would need to get out of these chains. A slave uprising would provide an excellent opportunity.

"And boi the way, moi name's Brooga Delfan, an' that's Miss Tassle. What should Oi call 'ee?"

Brooga held out a digging claw in a gesture of friendship. Ulrick paused for a moment, then reached out with his own large paw and shook it. This mole was sensible, just what he?d need to keep that idealistic shrew under control for a while.

?My name is Ulrick Hammerpaw.? He said softly. ?And you young maids have yourself a fighter.?

The badger cast his gaze around the hall, listening to the chattering of the vermin on the far side and sniffing at the air. ?Wait until I make my move, then do whatever you can. There are other areas of this fort we know little about. While the vermin are distracted you should try and get the others to whatever kind of safety you can find. Now, spread the word, and watch for my move.?

~

?Oi, Tornear, it?s yur turn t? check on the slaves!?

Tornear gave the searat that had hollered at him a pointed look. ?My turn eh? I recall matey, that it were my turn last time??

None of the rest of the crew bothered to respond, so the ferret got to his feet, attached the keys to his belt and marched angrily across the hall, grumbling all the way about the unfairness of it all, and how when he had his way that rat would be in the crow?s nest for a month.

Everything was in order for the first group of slaves; a few cowered away from him as he loomed over them to check their manacles were fastened, a few stared at him defiantly, so he bared his fangs and growled menacingly at them until they looked away. Chuckling softly to himself, Tornear headed for the bulky form of the sleeping badger.

The beast had fallen asleep sitting against the wall, his manacled paws resting on his chest. Tornear crept closer, not wanting to wake him. Even while chained the badger had been problematic on the ship.

Suddenly, a muscular arm shot out, a large paw gripped Tornear by the throat and lifted him off his feet. The ferret was frozen with shock as the badger?s eyes snapped open.

?Why master Tornear, a pleasure as always.? Ulrick growled, his eyes burning with barely controlled hate. ?I?d like to present you with a choice now. Either you can unlock these chains and I let you live, or I kill you, take the keys and let myself out anyway. Which would you prefer??

With the badger?s paw closing steadily around his throat, it didn?t take Tornear long to decide. Yanking the keys from his belt, he franticly jabbed at the lock securing Ulrick?s paws. Before long there was a click and the chains fell to the stone floor with a clank.

?Good choice.? Ulrick snarled. ?Now, give the keys to my friend Miss Tassle here and you can be on your way.?

Tassle appeared beside the badger and Tornear almost flung the keys at her. ?Ye?ll? let?me?go?now??? he gasped, paws trying to loosen Ulrick?s grip on his neck.

?Of course!? Ulrick?s voice dripped with false sincerity.

~

The dice rattled in the pot as the rat shook, then rolled them across the table. ?Fates, another measly two?? she groaned. ?These bleedin? dice are loaded!?

?Just cos yer losin?!? grinned the stoat opposite her. He was about to reach for pot when, with a loud crash, Tornear slammed into the rickety table, scattering its contents across the floor.

?Gates, what was that?? gasped the stoat. Tornear opened his eyes and pointed franticly towards the slaves.

?Badger?badger? ? was all he could manage before he slumped on his back in a faint.

The pair looked in horror in the direction the ferret had been pointing. With a great roar, Ulrick came charging across the hall, a length of chain serving as a makeshift flail. The vermin only just had time to register what was happening before the badger had reached them, swinging his chain in heavy sweeps. Pandemonium broke out, vermin clamouring to get out of the way.

The noise of the fighting echoed around the hall, vermin cursing, others charging into the hall to see what was going on. Over the noise, the slaves could hear Ulrick?s roars and the swish of his chain. Tassle scurried between groups unlocking chains as she went. Some of the slaves immediately charged after Ulrick. Others, unsure of what to do with their new found freedom, simply stood dumbfounded.

?Come on!? Tassle cried over the noise of the fight. ?To the lower levels! We can hide there!?

Ulrick backed across the hall, keeping the vermin at bay. ?I shall meet you there!? he roared. ?Right after I?ve taught these vermin a lesson!?

I?ll see they don?t chain me again!