Blood and Bones

[Chak Ku'rill]

The sea otter pulled himself up onto the deck of the Phantom with a wet splash, hardly pausing to shake the water from his eyes as he made a bee-line for the gangplank. He pushed past huddled groups of beasts too weak or inexperienced to fight and soon found himself surrounded by a mishmash of former slaves preparing to face the approaching hoard of pirates. Some had spears or swords, but many had simpler weapons like wooden rods, shovels, or knotted ropes. Chak pulled the water-slicked axe from his belt and made his way to the front of the group where Reedox stood ready for battle as the last slaves limped slowly up the ramp. The squirrel held a dagger tightly in each paw.

?'Hoy, Chak.?

?'Hoy, Reedox.?

They tensed as the wood beneath their feet vibrated and soon the first of the snarling, roaring corsairs were upon them. Chak had to block a sword swing right away to keep his head. Reedox took the opportunity to drop the attacker with a quick stab to the kidney. Chak kicked the writhing weasel over the edge of the ramp and grappled another cutlass with the handle of his axe.

Reedox was surprisingly fast and efficient with his pair of daggers, catching a blade against the handle of one and spinning around to slash with the other. Chak chopped and blocked and bludgeoned as the pirates rushed them, while Reedox darted in and out between blows.

Midway through the battle, Chak's axe sunk deeply into the neck of a sea rat and stuck, leaving him exposed as he fought to pull the weapon free. A stoat came at him, brandishing a hammer, then fell shrieking with a knife protruding from his eye. Reedox leaped forward and reclaimed the blade just as Chak's axe came loose, blunt-end cracking across the snout of the next corsair.

Chak continued using the axe like a bludgeon, sending foes plummeting off the gangway, but soon his lungs were heaving and his efforts slowed. Fresh pirates took the places of those laboriously beaten down, and more and more of the brave slaves were falling from sheer exhaustion. The pirate captain, a fox, bellowed orders from afar, keeping his crew consistently at their throats. Soon they were driven back onto the ship itself.

A pirate's blade sunk into the beat-up handle of Chak's axe and he pulled the rat forward and off balance, wrapping an arm tightly around his neck and using him as a living, kicking shield. The pirates beyond paused, then a loud squawk carried across the water and a flash of bright green appeared at the end of the dock. The pirates paused in their attack, staring back at the giant parrot until the fox captain shouted at them.

?Keep them away from that gangplank!?

They pushed forward again, trying to skewer the otter, but Chak noticed they were being more cautious, as those at the rear were looking back, distracted, rather than shoving those in front of them forward. The jabs and slashes were more predictable and measured ? enough to keep Chak and the other fighters engaged, but not enough to actually drive them back.

After a while enough noise rose from the dock that Chak and his comrades were able to make some progress again, driving the pirates halfway down the ramp as fewer and fewer reinforcements came to back the remaining handful of corsairs. Chak no longer heard the captain yelling commands, and he could make out the sounds of metal clashing against metal a ways off. Then a cry filled the air that set Chak's fur on end.

?Eulaliaaaa!?

The slavedriver felt a surge of panic until he heard cheers rise up from the beasts onboard. In front of him the pirates scrambled to see where the Waverunner attack was coming from, dispersing. Their captain was nowhere in sight and a large mixture of trilling mongooses and charging Waverunners slammed into their flank, cutting through the panicking pirate crew like a shining new sword.

?Robert,? Chak said with relief.

Reedox panted beside him. ?'Bout time. Didn't he leave long before us??

Chak frowned at the squirrel, then shrugged, his breath still coming hard. ?We dunno what 'e's been up against.?

A trembling rabbit came up beside the otter and squirrel. He too panted, though not a drop of blood besmirched his pelt.

?We should throw off the gangplank while we have the chance and set sail!? He gestured for them to withdraw back to the ship. Chak surveyed the scene across the docks. The pirates were surrendering now in droves. He shook his head.

?Bain't leavin' anyone be'ind, friend. The fight be finished. Take a look.?

A mousemaid came up beside the rabbit and pulled on Chak's sleeve. ?We can't leave yet ? my brother is still back there somewhere. He was a room attendant!?

Chak spread out a staying paw. ?I said we ain't leavin' no one be'ind. Thar were a lot o' slaves Blade were usin' fer other tasks. Once the ship be secured, we'll go find 'em.?

?That fox was Dremlak.? A gruff vole stepped out of the gathering crowd of former slavebeasts. Chak recognized him from the sulfur mine. The vole jutted his chin in the direction the fox captain had been standing. ?'He ran the mine before you came and he was promoted to Overseer. If anybeast knows where to find the other slaves, it'd be him.?

Chak nodded, a low growl escaping his throat. ?The guy Torin thought were too violent...?

?Aye. A lot of beasts died under his paw.?

?I 'eard tale that 'e once slew a mother's child when she didn't meet 'er quota,? a shrew spoke up.

?Aye, that were Maura,? a squirrelmaid added. ?Ye remember her? Didn' last long after that, poor thing.?

Chak shouldered his axe and turned to face the gathering crowd of free beasts. ?I'm gonna go meet up wi' Rob an' the others. I'll see what I can find out. We'll be sure ta gather any remainin' slaves afore we take off. No rush now, I serpose, since Blade an' most o' the pirates be gone.? He looked out over the water at the last ships gliding slowly toward the mouth of the cavernous harbor, following in the Zephyr's wake.

Chak made sure a number of armed beasts were stationed around the edges of the Phantom's black deck before leaving the freebeasts behind. Reedox and a handful of others accompanied him, though they were all just as battle-worn.

They made their way through several clusters of beasts, some grappling and fighting with mongooses, hares, and other woodlanders, and some simply looking for the nearest escape route. A small band of corsairs tried to assault them, but they held their own until Waverunners came to their aid, forcing the vermin to surrender.

Chak scanned the carcass-littered docks for beasts with quills and was relieved not to find any. Finally, he spotted Robert and his face split into a wide, yellow-toothed grin. The hedgehog was instructing a group of hares to his left.

?Tie 'em up good an' tight boys ? an' double check 'em for hidden weapons.?

?Ayah! Snekk head steel bite after eet's cut off!? added a mongoose beside him, directing his own followers to do the same.

?Rob! Grand ta see yer face again, mate. Ye came jus' in time.? The sea otter reached a bloody paw out to clasp the hedgehog's tightly. Robert's grip was shallow, however, and his face cheerless. ?Er? ever'thin' a'right??

Robert shook his head. ?Nay, friend. I fouled up.? He glanced at the beasts behind Chak, then added quietly, ?In a big way.?

Chak waved Reedox and the other freebeasts off. ?Go see if ye can find Dremlak, would ye?? They nodded and set off. Once they were gone he turned back to Robert with a concerned frown. ?What 'appened??

Robert did not quite meet Chak's eye as he related his confrontation with Blade and how the ferret had manipulated him so easily.

?An' then he just? walked away. I couldn't do it, Chak. He was right there, an'? I couldn't do it. All me life I've been trained not to kill an unarmed beast an' somehow? somehow he knew.?

Chak's lips pulled tight, causing the prickly fur on his chin to stand out. ?Aye, that be bad news. 'E be a beast what be better off in Davy Jones' locker, no doubt about that. Who knows what mischief 'e'll cause, loosed on the seas again??

Robert clenched his fists. ?We know exactly what he's gonna do. He's headed for Salamandastron! You saw what his weapons are capable o' doin' ? they'll be taken completely by surprise an' Mossflower'll be overrun by villains an' cutthroats! Life as we know it will end! Because of me! Because I froze up!?

Chak growled low. ?Mayhaps. But folk will endure. Pirates been raidin' an' plunderin' fer ages, but beasts keep on livin' their lives.?

Robert's face darkened with a deep frown. ?You don't get it, Chak. This won't be a quick raid or a battle where one ship is lost. Blade wants to take over everythin'. He wants to rule all o' Mossflower like he ruled here in this here mountain. Nobeast will be safe.?

Chak sighed and looked away. Politics.

?A'right. So mayhaps Blade be goin' after Salamandastron. An' mayhaps 'e'll e'en succeed. Order'll come ta the pirates again an' jus' like las' time, woodlanders'll be captured an' made inta slaves. I don' like it, Rob, but that be the way o' the world, mate.? He shrugged. ?Best we can do is look at what we've accomplished. All these slaves be free now. Thar be 'ope whar thar weren't any, an' families can be reunited. That be summat ye can be proud of.? He clapped the hedgehog on the shoulder, but Robert's face remained gray and unchanged.

?I be thinkin' o' families, Chak. There are lots o' families livin' outside o' Salamandastron. Includin' me own. It's supposed to be safe.?

Chak grunted, then looked away, stroking his fraying mustache. ?I'll be settin' off 'ere in a mo' ta search the mountain fer any slaves what be left be'ind. Thar be quite a few what Blade were usin' outside o' the mines, an' we don' wanna be leavin' anyone be'ind when we finally set sail.?

?When we finally set sail?? Robert suddenly looked alarmed. ?Chak, we cain't wait for you to scour the entire mountain ? we've got to leave right away! We've got to stop Blade, don't you see??

?Ye honestly want ta leave hunnerds o' beasts sittin' in chains?? Chak glared at the hedgehog, crossing his arms.

Robert gritted his teeth. ?We don't have time! Look, the mongooses'll still be here. They'll be sure to search the mountain...?

?Those trap-settin' prisoner-burnin' savages? Air ye daft?? Chak hissed. ?An' what do ye think a ship full o' tired slaves what could barely fight a single crew o' pirates can do against an entire fleet? An' Blade's ship what be armed wi' those? blastin' weapons? Ye think 'e'll jus' let us sail on up an' board 'is vessel??

Robert's fur puffed out all over his body and his quills stood on end. ?We've got to at least try!?

?No. We don't. I say we take these beasts 'ome whar they can live out whatever be left o' their lives. I'm gonna go find the rest o' the slaves.? He pointed at the heart of the mountain. ?An' ye can sail after Blade in a dingy if ye feel that strongly.? He turned his back on the hedgehog and stalked away, adding, ?It'd be about equal ta the task.?

***********

Chak made his way over to where Reedox stood, talking to Hylan and Vera. His nostrils flared as he took in the scene. The fox captain's body lay sprawled at their feet, unmoving.

?Dead then??

They nodded.

?I'm sorry,? Vera added, ?I had no idea he was valuable in any way ? I was just trying to--? She gasped as a cough echoed up from the fox's open maw and she kicked him reflexively. Hylan yanked Vera back to stand behind him as the other fox groaned and reached a paw to his throat.

?Watch him!? Reedox drew his daggers. Chak and Hylan lifted their own weapons as Dremlak turned over and curled in on himself, coughing and panting for breath.

?Not dead.? Chak noted with a frown. ?Ye should ne'er assume.?

Dremlak cursed and gagged again, rubbing at his swollen neck. He pulled at the decorative scarf he wore, but the knot at the back just tightened.

?Yer the beast they call Dremlak?? Chak loomed over the pirate captain, gripping his axe. The blood of other beasts spattered his clothes and fur.

?Aye, an' yer that turncoat woodlander bastard what loosed the slaves, ain'cha.? He spat on the leg of the sea otter's breeches and snarled up from where he crouched. ?I told 'em ye could ne'er be trusted.?

The axe blade hooked under the jaw of the fox suddenly and Chak jerked up, suspending the overseer by his chin until his boots found purchase. The fox yipped pathetically as the curved point ground against bone.

?I'll tell ye one thing ye can trust, matey.? Chak pushed his grisly face toward the wincing fox's. ?I'm gonna kill ye,? he assured the captain, then cocked the axe blade back a fraction, eliciting another yelp. ?Whuther it be quick an' merciful er slow an' painful depends on 'ow cooperative ye be.? He raised a brow at the struggling tod. ?Ye fath'm??

?Aye!? Dremlak barked almost pleadingly, and Chak dropped him back to the ground.

?Thar be other slaves what Blade were usin' elsewhar in Dead Rock, outside o' the mines. I aim ta find 'em. So, ye can either 'elp me, er I'll find 'em on me own. Either way they'll be found, but it'd serve ye better if ye contributed.?

Dremlak swallowed, looking up at the sea otter apprehensively, though a glint of hate flashed across his eyes.

?Aye. I'll show ye.?

Chak signaled the tailless squirrel. ?Reedox, can ye gather a team o' willin' fighters ta accompany us fer one more rescue?? Reedox nodded and it didn't take long before he was back with a mix of hares, mongooses and former slaves.

Chak pulled the fox to his feet again and tied his paws tight before shoving him forward. ?Lead on, ye crafty bilgedog. An' don' e'en' think o' tryin' anythin' witty. We got arrows on ye jus' itchin' ta slice yer liver er split yer gut-sack. An' ye know that ain't a good way ta go.?

The fox glared back at them, then lead them into the south tunnel. The mongooses made scores on the rock walls as they went, and Chak watched the tod closely, expecting him to try something at any moment, but the trek was largely uneventful. They passed a couple of incapacitated pirates, felled earlier by Vera's poisoned scones. The mongooses tied their paws as a reassurance, but Chak doubted they were much of a threat since they were still laying in their own vomit. The otter suspected he and his friends all owed the vixen a great debt.

?Ye might be glad ta know,? Dremlak spoke up after nigh half an hour of silence, ?that all the slaves yer after be in one place. Blade 'ad em all put together ta 'elp move 'is treasure these past several days. Since 'e were plannin' on shippin' out, thar weren't no need fer cleanin' an' tendin' an' buildin' up supplies. The more 'elp 'e got movin' it, the sooner it'd be done.? He stopped outside a large iron and wood door. "They be jus' on the other side.?

Chak did not like the cool simper that played across the fox's lips. It was definitely a trap.

?You go first, fox,? he snarled.

?If ye insist.? He lifted the latch with an elbow and pushed his way through to a cavernous chamber that opened up into an even larger cave. The smell hit them all at once and several beasts puked where they stood. Chak too retched, but there was nothing but yellow acid in his empty stomach. Dremlak had ducked his nose into the scarf around his neck. His eyes glittered at the sea otter as Chak lifted his arm to his face, glaring past the fur.

Dremlak's voice was muffled by the cloth as well as a loud permeating buzz, but Chak could still make out his words. ?Ye didn't think Blade 'ud let a bunch o' petty slavebeasts see 'is mos' valuable riches an' let 'em live ta tell about it??

Chak looked out over the vast pit. Oil-fed sconces lit the walls, casting a flickering orange light across mounds and mounds of corpses. Mice and squirrels, voles, shrews, moles, hares, otters, hedgehogs, and  the occasional rat and weasel lay stacked upon stacks of yet more rotting bodies, all covered in swarms of flies. Most had their throats slit. Some had their skulls partially crushed.

?We'd have set sail long before you lot boarded the Phantom if Blade hadn't insisted we finish the job,? Dremlak growled.

?Yer the one what did this?? Chak's voice cracked as he fought to control himself.

The fox backed up a few paces. ?Followin' orders, mate. Jus' doin' me job. Ye think it were easy??

Chak blinked at the fox.

?I 'ad an entire crew workin' nonstop these past two days an' we still jus' barely finished in time. Probably why ye beat us so easy...? He mulled over the idea while Chak turned to face the sea of death again, unable to believe the waste of lives before him. Blade did this. On a whim, even.

?This ain't slavery. This be? genocide.?

If Robert was right and Blade aimed to conquer all of Mossflower, this was the future of woodlanders ? not rowing ships or digging mines. Rob had been right.

Blade had to be stopped.