Epilogue (1 of 3): Restitution

[Chak Ku'rill]

?What were Snubnose?s real name again?? Chak halted, looking back.

Reedox didn?t even have to check the small roll of parchment in his pocket. They had been over the list so many times, he knew most of it by heart. Chak did too, but couldn't help looking for an excuse to stall a bit longer. Not all the families were willing to hear the kind of news he brought to their doorsteps, and after fifty-seven such attempts, the otter had grown leery.

?Chester Lox.?

Chak grunted, toying with the clip of the satchel hanging at his belt, then continued up the path toward the small cottage. Out of their list of sixty, only two of the slaves had proved impossible to trace. Most of the woodlanders had been from coastal towns, but some, like Chester, were from deeper parts of Mossflower, and had taken more effort to locate.

The sea otter rapped on the wooden door, then stepped back. A tired-looking volemaid answered, peering out at them suspiciously.

?May I help you??

?Missus Lox?? Chak inquired.

?What?s your business?? she returned guardedly.

?It? be a bit complicated, marm. We be ?ere regardin? yer late ?usband, Chester. We be? former shipmates o? ?is.?

The vole?s mouth dropped open and she let the door swing ajar, taking a step back. ?Please, come in.?

Chak ducked his head cautiously under the threshold and stepped through into the humble home, followed closely by the tailless squirrel. 

The vole gestured at the table where four chairs sat empty, wiping her paws with an old ragged dishcloth. ?Please have a seat.?

Chak pulled one of the wicker chairs back. The tail stile had obviously not been designed with an otter in mind, so he sat at an angle. The vole joined them after turning up an oil lamp.

?This is the first I?ve heard any news in four years. I was sure deep down something awful had happened to him, but I still hoped that maybe, someday, he would return to me yet.? The graying widow?s head shook and she dabbed at her eyes with the cloth.

?An ?e might ?ave. ?E wanted to. But ?e were out at sea, a slave on a pirate ship. Chained durin? the night an? rowin? throughout the day under watchful eyes. Mostly ?e worked ?ard an? weren?t no trouble.?

?Yes, that?s my Chester. Even when there was cause to fight, he always took the peaceable route. It wasn?t in his nature to ever hurt others.? She studied her broken, worn claws. ?I?ve missed him terribly. I kept thinking he would return at any moment. I took out loans, even, thinking it was a temporary thing, but as time progressed and he still didn?t come home, the creditors started calling. I couldn?t keep up with the payments, no matter how much tatting or tailoring I did. Now they?re threatening to take the house. It?s why I was unwelcoming toward you at first. I do apologize.?

Chak waved her off. ?No need. I know we ain?t ?zactly the most clean-cut o? creatures. Best fer a lonely lass such as yerself ta stay wary.? Chak reached down into the satchel and retrieved a small object. ?Thar were summat I wanted ta give ye, what Chester ?eld onta ?til the vury end.? He held the silver-framed pendant out to the vole.

She gasped, putting a paw to her mouth and began to weep. After a while she wiped her eyes clear with a sniffle and lifted the pendant with reverence. ?It was a gift on our wedding day. He always carried it when he went on long trips. ?For good luck,? he said.?

Chak felt a heave of guilt, remembering how he had taken this last hope, this last small object of protection from the vole, right before he had needed it most.

?Can you tell me? how he died?? The volemaid blinked at them through tear-filled eyes. ?Were you there??

Chak cleared his throat, bowing his head. ?Swallowed up by the sea, marm. ?E an? many others. Vury few escaped.?

She groaned and covered her face once again, sobbing. After a couple minutes of listening to her heartbreak, Reedox nudged the sea otter pointedly. Chak nodded.

?I know t?ain?t much, marm,? he broke in as gently as his rough voice allowed, ?but I also wanted ye ta ?ave a bit o? gold on Chester?s be?alf. Summat ta ?elp ye, since ?e be gone.? The sea otter brought the portioned bag out, setting it on the table with a heavy clink. It was barely a fraction of what they had collected from Blade?s stockpile, but it still made the vole?s eyes go wide.

?Oh sir,? she sniffed, trying to compose herself. ?I - I don?t know how to thank you??

?Ye shouldn? thank me, marm. I be doin? this as an act o? contrition more n? anythin?. I jus? wanted ta tell ye what ?appened, an? tell ye ?ow sorry I be.?

?I think? I understand,? she replied, taking a deep breath and wiping her face clear again. ?You see, unlike Chester, I come from a military family. It?s one reason I was so attracted to him in the first place. I know about the guilt that haunts survivors? and the nightmares.? She touched Chak?s scarred paw and he jerked it back, avoiding her understanding gaze.

How could she be so right when she only knew half the truth? She ought to hate him, not console him. He opened his mouth, about to tell her everything when Reedox stood, gripping a pawful of his shirt at the shoulder.

?Thank you, ma?am, for your time. We know gold can?t comfort the same as having your husband back, but mayhaps it can help ease your troubles.?

She nodded appreciatively. Chak rose to his feet, pursing his lips and glancing at the squirrel. Reedox practically pushed him out the door. After a last departing wave, the two beasts headed back the way they had come. Reedox breathed a sigh, then glared at Chak.

?You nearly did it again.?

Chak shoved his thumbs in his belt, focusing on the muddy path beneath his paws. ?She didn? know the ?ole story.?

?Telling her you?re the one that enslaved him isn?t the whole story either. I get that you feel guilty. You should. But making everyone?s relatives all drive us out with flying cutlery and curses is not helpful. Not if you want them to keep the money, or tell you more about their lost loved ones. I mean, isn?t that the whole reason we?re doing this??

?Aye. Jus? don? feel right lettin ?er believe a lie is all.?

Reedox scrubbed his whiskers with a paw. ?Trust me, she?s much happier for it. And it wasn?t a complete lie. We were his shipmates, we escaped, we were both slaves??

Chak scoffed. ?I thought ye were the honest one, Reed.?

The squirrel grew silent and they walked a good length of trail before he spoke again. ?You know, that whole pendant ordeal on the ship ? it wasn?t what you thought.?

Chak?s gaze snapped to the squirrel and he narrowed his eyes. ?Whaddaya mean??

?Snub wasn?t onboard with the plan,? Reedox shrugged. ?We wanted to teach him a lesson. Show him he was either with the group or we were against him too. Consequences.?

Chak looked out at the path ahead. ?The plan ta kill me, ye mean.?

Reedox kicked at a tuft of yellow grass. ?I?m still not sure Nimbleton would have gone through with it himself, but I know there were? others that would have.?

Chak watched the squirrel?s posture change and his ears pin back.

?Aye.?

They were quiet the rest of the journey back to Port Weatherby where Chak?s cutter sat waiting for them, bobbing softly in the water. Chak slipped the dock guard another coin and they boarded the small vessel, checking that nothing had been disturbed.

The journey inland had taken a full day and the two exhausted beasts collapsed into the folds of their cocoon-like hammocks, yet Chak?s mind still raced. They had reached the end of the list. Nimbleton was the only one left. Not that his family had been hard to find ? Reedox knew more about him than any other slave. Nimbleton?s hometown of Fariby was not far from the squirrel?s own village.

?So I serpose we?ll be partin? ways soon, eh??

?Aye. I s?pose.? A beat of silence passed. ?How long do you think you?ll be anchored in Fariby??

?Dunno. Depends on ?ow things go. Mayhaps a couple o? days. Jus? so I can get a feel fer the place.?

?Aye,? Reedox answered with a yawn. Soon his breathing grew easy with sleep. Chak turned in his hammock and tried not to dwell on the idea of being alone again. All was silent save the lapping of water against the hull, and soon the sea otter drifted off to sleep himself.

*******************************

After two days sailing along the Mossflower coast, Chak and Reedox reached their destination. Fariby was a sizeable port that was more a city than a town. Lampposts with hanging flowerpots lined the streets and beasts could be spotted sweeping cobblestone paths and picking up refuse here and there. It was nothing like the ports Chak was used to, which were generally rather scummy places with sewage streaming along the sides of rutted, muddy roads. Instead of shady ale houses that reeked of piss and vomit, there were friendly-looking pubs advertising local musicians and acorn brews. Females strolled leisurely along the walkways, unafraid, and children scampered about playing rather than begging.

?Who?d know thar were an underground slave-tradin? ring ?ere not that long ago,? Chak marveled.

Reedox nodded. ?Fewer pirates means less business. You have to admit, Atlas?s campaign did make a difference.?

?Aye, but ye might notice most o? them what be doin? the dirty work ?round ?ere be vermin.? Chak jerked his head at a sea rat sweeping up a pile of hairballs and nut shells.

?Community service maybe?? Reedox shrugged distractedly, then looked down at his footpaws. ?I?d? better get going. It?s a half day?s journey up river and I?d like to get there before it gets too dark.? He gazed off in the direction of home.

?So this is it then.? Chak breathed out a sigh of resignation through his nose. ?Yer really goin?.?

?Aye.? The squirrel squinted up at his companion, mouth forming a tight line.

The sea otter extended his scarred paw and the squirrel grasped it in a firm shake. ?It?s been good ?avin? ye around fer company these seasons. I?ll be missin? yer scurvy ?ide.?

The squirrel shrugged again. ?Yeah.? Some indistinguishable expression tugged at the edge of his mouth. ?We?ll see how things go.? Then he scurried off, rucksack bobbing against his shoulders.

The otter wasn?t sure what he had really expected. A tearful goodbye? An embrace? Neither suited the squirrel. Chak supposed abrupt was better than awkward, but the suddenness of Reedox?s abandonment left the otter feeling strangely vulnerable.

He rolled his shoulders and headed into the heart of the city, eager to find a distraction. After a while, a rhythmic sound caught his ear. As he moved closer, the noise became distinguishable as music, and the sea otter brightened. He found the source at a shop around the corner where three beasts played instruments on an outdoor stage. A red and gold-painted sign proclaimed information about the band and a decorated tip bucket sat beneath it. Chak pretended not to notice the sign at all. He sat at an empty table, drumming his claws to the beat. Soon, a shrewmaid in a stained apron approached him.

?What?s your pleasure this afternoon, dearie??

Chak grunted. ?Gimmee summat wi? a local flavor.?

She nodded and left him to bask in the cheerful resonance of the musicians? instruments. There was a river otter with a huge, oversized fiddle, a squirrel with a variety of drums, and a mouse with a recorder. The music was lively and several beasts around were dancing and clapping in time. After a while the tune ended and another began, though this time the otter broke into song.

?A needle patch, a broker?s toe,
Don't tell me what I ought to know,
Six long years I let it grow,
?Side the archipelago.

Pickadilly, Roget?s clay,
Whisker twitch and docker?s pay,
Sticky paws in time betray,
Ask me once then go away.?

The otter played her instrument vigorously while she caught her breath. Chak noticed that the tempo seemed to increase with every line.

?Stomp a willow, tree a hare,
Lack-a-daisy, Flippin square,
Crooked ticker, make a mayor
Crack a thistle - I don?t care!?

Blue pajama jelly rose,
This is how a madbeast shows
Just how far the sticker goes
Through the paw pad, up the nose.?

Chak hardly believed the singer could spit the words out fast enough as the pace grew even quicker. He felt his own pulse increase at the urgency.

?Fishing for a darling deep,
Treasure that I cannot keep,
Wash the nightmare from your sleep,
Sludges in the shadows creep.

Twisted penny, blackened heart,
Long ago and far apart,
Wish I?d known it from the start,
Turn a key but don?t depart!?

The fevered chaos ended with her last syllable and the audience erupted in cheers and applause. The ottermaid bowed once, then guzzled refreshment from a tankard, breathing heavily as the band eased into a slower, simpler melody. The mouse carried the melancholy tune with his flute while the otter and squirrel quietly underlined his efforts.

The shrew waitress plopped a mug of dark, frothing liquid in front of Chak. He sniffed curiously at the draft.

?It?s called ?blackbark.? Brewed just around the corner.?

Chak took a draw and smacked his lips, foam lingering on his muzzle and whiskers. ?Nice rich flavor.?

The shrew nodded genially. ?Anything else I can get for you??

?Nay, this?ll be fine. I were wonderin? though ? who be playin??? He jerked a thumb at the band.

?That?d be ?The Nimble Tongues,? dearie. You must be from out of town.?

Chak nodded dumbly, gaping at the musicians with surprise. It couldn?t be a coincidence. He studied the mouse with the flute more closely. There were a few similarities, but nothing definite. His gaze wandered back to the ottermaid, stroking the long, stiff strings of her instrument, eyes closed as she focused on each long, sad note. Soon enough the tune drew to a close, and the river otter stood, scratching her back with her bow.

?We?re gonna wrap it up now, but stick around! ?The Peanut Galley? are up next and I hear they?ve a couple new shanties to surprise you with. And remember ? if you like what you heard, show some love and drop a coin or two in the bucket!? The beasts in the immediate area applauded politely as the mouse, otter and squirrel bowed and began packing up their things.

Chak rose to his feet, taking one last swallow of beer before boldly approaching the musical trio. He honed in on the ottermaid who was tying up her oversized fiddle in a soft, protective case. He cleared his throat and nodded at the instrument, gaining her attention momentarily. ?What d?ye call that thing, if ye don? mind me askin?? Cain?t say I?ve seen one afore.?

?It?s a bass violin,? she answered coolly.

?Arrr.? Chak scratched at the back of his neck, finding himself unable to focus on anything but the ottermaid?s long, slick tail for an inappropriate length of time.

?If you?ll excuse me?? she hefted her case across her back, pushing her arms through a set of carrying straps, then made as if to leave.

Realizing he might lose his chance, Chak found his voice again, ?I wanted ter ask ye ? an? yer band, if I might buy ye a round o? drinks.?

The ottermaid sighed. ?I?m sorry. I?m not much of a drinker, actually, and we?re all pretty tired. You understand.? She moved past him.

?Wait,? Chak beckoned her to pause with a hint of desperation. ?It ain?t jus? that I liked yer singin?. I wanted ta ask ye? about Nimbleton.?

The ottermaid turned, evaluating the gruff sea otter more carefully. ?Nimbleton Pron?le??

Chak shrugged. ?Be thar more ?n one ?round ?ere??

The singer shifted her instrument to a more comfortable position, pulling a twist out of one strap. ?What about him? What do you want to know?? Her eyes wandered absently toward her bandmates who stood waiting for her at the edge of the road.

Chak looked at the ground. ??E were a slave aboard the same ship as me. I be lookin? ter tell ?is family what ?appened. ?Ow ?e died.? When he looked back up, the maid?s eyes were wide and her mouth hung ajar.

She clamped it shut again, blinking rapidly. ?We?ll take you to them. My bandmate Brushby is his cousin. We all knew him? quite well.?

Chak felt a pang in his chest. ?Sorry.?

?Salina Fiord.? She extended a paw to the other otter. ?Any friend of Nimbleton?s is a friend of mine.?

Chak clasped her paw, shaking it firmly. They made their way over to the other two band members. Salina introduced the mouse as Brushby and the squirrel as Edwin.

?You can just call me Ned.? The squirrel grinned, showing his long white incisors. Chak introduced himself in return with Salina adding that he knew Nimbleton when he was a slave.

?He?d like to talk to the Pron?les,? she said, looking pointedly at Brushby.

The mouse nodded readily. ?We would all like to learn more about Nimbleton?s fate. I?ll take you up to the hill house.?

They all fell into step behind Brushby as he led the way through the city. Chak fell into step beside Salina. The bass looked burdensome, covering most of the ottermaid?s back and looming over her shoulders. ?I could carry that fer ye, if ye like.?

She shook her head. ?I?m used to it, thanks.?

Chak frowned, wishing for something more to do with his paws. ?So, what were Min- Nimbleton like afore? When ?e lived ?ere??

Salina took a deep breath then let it out. ?He was an actor, mostly. Very esteemed, but at the same time real down-to-earth. His family?s well off, but you wouldn?t know it the way he treated other beasts. There were rumors that he?d have done well in the political arena, if he?d had the chance. He had the finances and the support. Mostly he was an entertainer though.? The ottermaid smiled to herself. ?He could come up with the funniest skits on the fly. Improvisation was kind of his thing, and often he?d make up a song on the spot to fit the current situation and get a laugh.? She chuckled then, a distant look in her eyes. ?Once he made up this entire rhyming song about ?who would know my pretty face was hid behind that big fat bass.? Or something like that. I wish I could remember all the words now??

?I know ?ow ye feel.? Chak sighed.

?He encouraged me to write my own songs, and to sing too.? She looked sadly off into the distance as they trudged up a steep incline. ?He always believed I?d be something great.?

?Aye. Well ?e were right. Ye be a fine singer. ?E?d be proud.?

?Except it?s the same thing I?ve been doing since before he was taken.? She adjusted her instrument again with a grunt, starting to pant slightly.

?D?ye usually carry it up mountain sides too?? Chak pushed. ?Ye should catch yer breath after all that singin?.  ?Ere?? The two paused as Chak seized a hold of the case handle. Salina reluctantly surrendered the bass to the gruff sea otter, wincing and hissing with her paws ready to catch it in case it fell. Chak was careful though, and slid the instrument easily across his own back.

?Thank you. You?re very kind.?

?Har har har!? Chak laughed, shaking his head at the compliment. ?Ne?er been called that afore...?

The otters quickened their pace to catch up to the others then. A substantial mansion topped the rounded peak ahead and Chak chewed his hairy bottom lip. If Nimbleton?s family was as well off as Salina said, their small sack of gold might be seen as more of an insult than restitution. It was one thing to be tossed out on his ear by Boddle?s family. Nimbleton?s was another matter entirely. He resolved more than ever to keep his role secret this time.

Brushby took them through a small, cast iron gate that creaked on squeaky hinges and up a path through an elaborate garden. Chak marveled at the uniformity and beauty, coming to a complete halt upon sight of a white marble statue ? a mouse holding up a set of gleaming brass balance scales.

?It?s supposed to represent fairness,? Salina explained in a quiet, almost reverential tone. Chak stroked his plaited whiskers thoughtfully, wondering how off-kilter his own measure would be.

Edwin paused ahead of them, waiting at a split in the path.

?This be a beauty-filled place,? Chak remarked as they drew near to the squirrel. ?Be this whar Nimbleton lived??

?Yeah, most of ?is balmy life, the lucky clod. Not sure ?ow we ended up being friends.? The squirrel gazed out across the garden, paws propped at his sides. ?Maybe ?e just wanted to annoy ?is folks??

Salina nudged him and they all continued up the path. ?Ned and Nimbleton were very close growing up. They were ?Ned and Nim? to most everyone. A real duo of trouble from what I hear.?

Ned winked at Chak. ?You wouldn?t believe some of the stunts we pulled. Near criminal, we were.?

?Oh, aye?? Chak probed.

?Yeah, we once snuck into the chief of security?s office and replaced his Stagmor trophy with one Nimbleton had commissioned out of cheese. It took him over a week to figure out what the smell was and by then it was growing blue mold!?

The sea otter blinked at the squirrel. 

?Ah, you ?ad ta be there, I guess.? Ned waved a dismissive paw and sighed.

Too soon they caught up with Brushby at the grand door of the three-story hill house. An elderly meadow mouse with white hairs protruding from his ears answered, bowing respectfully. ?May I ask who accompanies you, Master Tanbuckle??

Brushby nodded at each beast in turn. ?Well you know Edgar and Salina. This here?s Chak. He was slavemates with Nimbleton and brings news of his fate. I knew Harlan and Calla would want to see him, so I brought him up right away without sending ahead.?

The old butler nodded and allowed them all to pass through the oversized doorway, gesturing at a row of chairs and cushioned benches along the entryway. ?Please, make yourselves comfortable while I pass on the message.? He scurried off, an urgency in his stiff steps.

Chak slid the bass carefully from his back and leaned it against a shelf as Salina directed, then paced back and forth while the other three sat, taking in everything around him. An intricate chandelier twinkled high above their heads, candlelight reflecting through hundreds of crystals. Paintings of various mice ? some very old-looking ? hung along the walls. Chak stopped in front of a larger painting of two mice holding an infant.

?Were Nimbleton an only child??

?Yes.? The voice echoed down from above and Chak jerked. "Though one might argue that Salina and Edwin were as close as siblings." A lady mouse made her way delicately down a broad set of stairs, accompanied by a somber gray mouse with spectacles and an authoritative presence. Chak recognized them both from the painting.

?Master and Lady Pron?le,? the elderly butler announced, having reemerged behind Chak. The sea otter started again, surprised at the meadow mouse?s sudden appearance. The three other beasts rose to their feet, respectfully. Mrs. Pron?le reached out and embraced Salina, kissing her lightly as the taller beast bent down. She patted Ned's paw affectionately and stroked Brushby's head.

?If you would care to join us in the parlor, we would be very interested to hear what news you bring.? The lady mouse gestured cordially and made her way back up the stairs, Mr. Pron?le escorting her genteelly by the paw. Chak plodded up after them, feeling like he was soiling everything he touched. The top of the stairs opened up into a spacious, yet cozy room full of soft chairs and couches.

?Please. Make yourself comfortable,? Mrs. Pron?le gestured toward a group of chairs that encircled a round, marble-topped table. Chak chose a dark brown chair with brass studs along the edges in the hopes it would hide any fur or grime he might unwittingly leave behind. The others joined him in the surrounding seats with the Pron?les sitting directly across from their guest.

The stately, gray-furred mouse spoke up then, his deep voice carrying clearly to all ears. ?As I understand it, you know what?s become of my son??

Chak felt the pressure as all eyes turned toward him expectantly. He cleared his throat. ?I?m sure ye?ve ?eard by now about Cap?n Blade an? the sea battle what took place off o? Salamandastron.? Heads nodded and he continued, ?I be comin? from all that, an? Nimbleton?s fate be tied in wi? the reemergence o? Cap?n Blade at Mongoose Island. Y?see, ?e were a galley slave aboard a pirate ship called the Silver Maiden what were ?eaded thar in search o? rumored treasure??

Chak laid it all out for them ? how Nimbleton had been a leader amidst the slaves and how his singing had encouraged and inspired them not to lose hope. He told them about the slavemaster nicknamed ?Cruel? on account of his strict and hard-hearted nature, about the plan to escape, and the unexpected ramming of the Waverunner ship that fateful night.

The butler, Chassy, handed Chak a cup of honeyed tea, and he accepted it gratefully, taking a sip to sooth his throat. He gripped the cup tightly to steady his paws and continued, relating the horror of the cannons and the sinking of the ship from the slaves? perspective until he reached his own part in the tale, which caused him to falter. He paused as his brain worked to carefully reconstruct the story.

?Master Cruel returned, but the rat what ?ad the key ta the slaves? chains was gone, an? the ship were a?ready ?alf submerged. The lucky ones ? Nimbleton bein? one o? them, were fortunate enough ta be in the front row whar Cruel worked ta ?elp tear the chains from the floorboards afore the Silver Maiden went under. Some?ow?we made it ashore an? collapsed thar ?til mornin?.? Chak took a long drink, draining his teacup completely, then scrubbed a paw across his coarse whisker mustache.

?So he survived?? Mrs. Pron?le interrupted, a note of hope in her voice. ?He?s alive??

Chak?s face contorted and he shook his head.

?Let him tell us at his own pace, Calla.? Mr. Pron?le took his wife?s paw gently in his own. She choked back a sob and put her head against his shoulder. Chak reached out and placed the teacup shakily on the porcelain saucer the butler had left on the center table. It gave a sharp clink and he winced. So fragile?

?Nimbleton made it ta the island along wi? Reedox, the squirrel I were tellin? ye about, an? Cruel made it too. We were still in chains, an? ?e still acted as slave master, despite thar bein? no ship ta row. Reedox still wanted ta kill ?im, but Nimbleton didn? seem ta think it were necessary anymore. I think ?e felt a debt ta the driver, fer savin? ?is life. Also Cruel seemed ta mourn the loss o? the other slaves, goin? so far as ta set up a memorial, which Nimbleton seemed ta ?preciate. At the memorial, Nimbleton sang a song fer all the lost souls ? a resonatin? melody...what stabbed me ?eart an? shivered me bones?? Chak drifted off in the memory for several seconds before recovering. 

?The slave master entrusted ?im with a dagger too, though no one else knew about it at the time. Nimbleton coulda used it against ?im at any moment, but ?e chose not to. Mayhaps ?e saw it as an indication the slave an? master relationship were startin? ta break down.? Chak shrugged.

?Later they came across another group o? marooned beasts, an? Cruel recognized the sea rat what ?ad chained everyone an? fled wi? the key. ?E were so enraged, ?e killed ?im right then an? thar. ?Eld ?im underwater ?til ?e were as drowned an? dead as the slaves ?e?d left be?ind. A form o? justice, I serpose. Though one might argue that it were more a matter o? vengeance fer takin? summat valuable from ?im.? Chak studied the claws on his fingers. ?Either way, Nimbleton seemed ta sympathize, e?en in that.?

Brushby swallowed, exchanging a look with Edwin. Chak watched them both shift uncomfortably.

?Ye?d be surprised what so many years o? slavery?ll do ta a beast?s conscience,? he explained knowingly. ?E?en the mos? kind-?earted souls be findin? a bitter resentment growin? deep inside what can bloom inta violence, given enough time. Coldness be a form o? protection, like a callous. Otherwise ye jus? go mad.? The sea otter shook his head. ?Slavery either kills ye early on er ?ardens ye inta a darker, crueler version o? yerself. Few be able ta retain compassion in the midst o? all that pain an? sufferin?. Nimbleton were rare in that regard, but at the same time, ?e still ?ad that callous like the rest o? us what enabled ?im ta continue.? Chak gritted his teeth. ??E saw summat in Cruel. Don? know why. Don? know what. But ?e ?ad faith that ?e?d turn out fer the better in the end.?

?Nimbleton was always like that,? Edwin interjected. ?Always looking for the good in others. Made us all strive to do better ? to become that better beast.?

?Yarrrr,? Chak agreed heartily.

?So then what happened?? Brushby prodded.

?Well, Cruel took the key from the rat?s dead body an? unlocked all the manacles. So we were all free then ? free ta go er free ta stay. ?Owever, thar were a Waverunner ?edge?og among the new group o? beasts what were fair an? friendly, an? were quick ta take charge. ?Is name were Robert. Everyone seemed ta favor ?im an? Nimbleton were no exception. I expect ?e reminded ?im ?ow things ought ta be. Motivation by encouragement ruther ?n by a whip. Leadin? through example ruther ?n by fear?? Chak looked from face to face at the surrounding room of family and friends. ?Things seemed ta be gettin? better. We were free, an? a respectable beast were at the ?elm.? He took a deep breath, pursing his lips. The expectant silence weighed on the sea otter?s shoulders and he started to fidget again.

?Durin? the night, one o? the youngest beasts fled inta the jungle forest along wi? another beast what were upset about the rat bein? killed. They didn? want ta be anywhar near Cruel, y?see. Robert wanted ta go after ?em an? find ?em. We didn? know at the time the dangers o? the jungle forest.? Chak paused, feeling his throat go suddenly tight. He had skipped over the details of the slaves drowning on the ship, but he knew he couldn?t gloss over this part of the story. He felt his breath come quicker as his heart began to race. ?Nimbleton were scoutin? ahead, out in front, followin? the trail. ?E sprung a trap what were set up by the natives ta defend their territory. We didn? e?en know thar were natives.? Chak?s breath caught in his throat and he felt his face grow hot as he held out his paws, imagining the dying mouse once again. His vision blurred and his face stretched into a tight grimace. ?I ?eld ?im? in me arms. Thar were a ?ealer wi? us, but she said thar were naught ta be done. So all I could do was watch? as?as ?e slipped away.? Chak?s voice broke at the end and he shook his head.

?He put himself out there, between his friends and danger,? Brushby stated somberly. ?Taking that daring first step so that others could follow. That?s Nimbleton in a nutshell.?

Nimbleton?s mother started to cry while others whimpered and sniffed quietly. Mr. Pron?le held his wife in his arms, soothing her. Chak noticed that even the butler had tear tracks cutting through his gray cheek fur.

?Damn it,? the sea otter swore, looking down at his now-empty arms. ?It shoulda been me.? He lifted his trembling paws to his face.

Salina slid quietly next to him then, putting a comforting paw to his knee. ?None of you should have died. You were born free and deserved to live full, happy lives. All of you. If anyone deserved to die, it was those who took that from you.?

?Ye don? get it!? Chak?s voice rose suddenly as he shoved her arm away. He stood, bristling, eyes bloodshot with tears. ?Ye don? know who I be!?

She shied away, startled at his fearsome appearance.

The sea otter paused, taking a deep, full breath, then let it out slowly. He clenched and unclenched his fists, closing his eyes. When he spoke again his voice was calm and measured, ?No beast woulda blinked an eye er shed one tear if it?d been me.? He paused. ??Cept mayhaps him.? He collapsed into his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose between his eyes. Silence reigned in the room, broken now and again by sniffs and sobs.

?So was Nimbleton right?? Salina?s voice interjected.

?How d?ye mean?? Chak muttered, regarding the ottermaid.

Salina was studying him closely, eyes narrowed.  ?About the slave driver.?

Chak avoided looking her in the face, considering how far he should play out the lie. ?Aye. I serpose.?

Salina waited until he looked up again, meeting her accusing eyes.

?You?re him. Aren?t you.?

Chak froze, trapped in her cold, condemning glare. He swallowed, then glanced around the room from face to face. All eyes were riveted on him, and he could sense the hostility growing.

?Why would ye think that?? he dodged.

?Well for one thing, you talk like a pirate, not a woodlander. That?s a pretty big clue.?

Chak shrugged. ?I been a slave most o? me life among pirates. It rubs off on ye.?

?You told that entire story like you weren?t really a part of it. Nimbleton got along with Cruel. Reedox wanted to kill him. What about you? It?s like you forgot to mention your own existence, while expounding extensively on the relationship between Cruel and Nim. Plus that bit about me not knowing who you are and that no one would have cared if you?d been the one to die. That signals a guilty conscience if you ask me.? She crossed her arms.

Chak looked down at his paws again, lost for words.

?Mr. Pron?le, you might want to send for some guards,? Salina suggested. Chak looked up in time to see the mouse nod at the butler who immediately stepped out.

?Wait?what air ye doin???

Salina rose to her feet. ?Nimbleton may have found a way to forgive you and look past what you did, but you can?t seriously expect us to sit here and ignore the fact that the beast who enslaved Nimbleton is sitting right beside us. You stole more than a pair of working paws, corsair. You stole more than one life. You took a part of all our lives. Our hearts.? Tears streamed down her face, past glistening fangs.

Chak stood up, bewildered. ?I didn?. I weren?t the one what enslaved ?im! I were the driver! The cap?n bought ?im off a merchant when we were short-pawed ??

?You kept him enslaved, then!? The ottermaid snarled in his face. ?All those years! All those years lost to him and to us!? Her chest heaved with indignation.

?Aye.? Chak replied. ?An? I know thar ain?t nothin? I can do ta make up fer it. All I can do is ta tell ye what I came ?ere ta tell ye. That I?m sorry.? He cast a glance around the room to include everyone. ?An? I wish ta Darkest Forest that I could go back an? change things but I cain?t.? He sat back down resignedly. ?All I can do is try an? be that better beast what Nimbleton saw.?

Salina put a paw to her mouth in anguish and left the room with a choking sound. The butler reappeared at the doorway and Mr. Pron?le moved to speak with him in a hushed voice. Chak waited, scraping some dirt out from under his claws, mulling over this new circumstance. Perhaps they would throw him in a dungeon. Or maybe they would have him water flowers and light lanterns in the square?

?Mr. Chak,? Mr. Pron?le addressed him firmly.

?Ku?rill be me surname.?

?Mr. Ku?rill then. I just wanted you to know that a pair of townsguards are on their way up. I think we need some time to discuss all of this as a family though, before we make any?final decisions. If you would please cooperate with them, we will send further word shortly.?

Chak nodded sullenly. He looked at Ned who appeared frozen with apprehension, then at Brushby, his eyes wide and his lips drawn tight. Mrs. Pron?le seemed lost in her grief, face covered with her thin, white-furred paws.

A uniformed badger and hefty-shouldered hedgehog appeared at the door behind Mr. Pron?le, who motioned at Chak. The sea otter gave everyone one last, gloomy glance, then joined the guards as they marched him down the stairs.