They obeyed without question. Plugg banged their heads together hard, then smiled genially at them. Take this tiller, Slitfang. Keep’er dead on to that light, or I’ll tie ye to a rock an’ use yer for an anchor.
Grubbage, rouse the crew an’ tell’em t’make full sail. The silver fox padded back off to his cabin.
Grubbage massaged the side of his head in bewilderment. Grouse’as flew with a cake full o’ pail? Slitty, me old messmate, d’you think the Cap’n’s gone soft in’is’ead?
Slitfang was wiggling a paw in his ear, the one that had collided with Grubbage’s head. I wisht the Cap’n wouldn’t do that, it makes a ringin’
in me’ead.
Grubbage nodded agreement with his mate. Aye, I’d sooner be a-singin’
in me bed too. Oh well, s’pose I’d better order the crew to make full sail. Huh, I got to do all the thinkin’ on this ship, while the Cap’n strolls round talkin’ rubbish!
Soon all the motley vermin crew were on deck, hauling at the ropes to raise sails. Grubbage swung a knotted rope’s end at any who were slacking.
Come on, ye sons o’slopbarrels, put some backbone into it. Let’s’ear ye sing a Freebootin’ shanty, an’ sing out loud. I hates the way youse whisper yore songs, ruins a good tune!
The Seascab’s crew roared out the ditty as they pulled on the ropes in unison:
When I was just a young’un,
I left me familee,
Wid all that I could steal off’em,
I ran away to sea.
An’ me Cap’n cried’ooray,
That’s the Freebootin’ way!
I took a course in wickedness, At plund’rin’ I came first, In slyness an’ at thievin’, I was voted best o’ worst. An’ to anybeast I’ll say That’s the Freebootin’ way!
I’ll rob the eyes from out yore’ead,
If you ain’t watchin’ me,
An’ anythin’ that ain’t nailed down,
I’ll take with me for free.
Who sez that crime don’t pay?
That’s the Freebootin’ way!
When I rolls in to dinner, I smiles at all me mates, I robs’em of their grog pots, An’ vittles off their plates. An’ if’n they complain I say, That’s the Freebootin’ way!
If early in the mornin’, I’ears a bluebird sing, I fixes’im right smartish, Wid a rock from out me sling. An’ me shipmates laugh’n’ say, That’s the Freebooters’ way!
Captain Riftun was still breathing hard from his run along the clifftops.
Having made his report to the three Pure Ferrets in the throne room, he stood to attention, awaiting orders.
Agarnu shrugged. Tell der Freebooters to anchor in de bay an’ bring dem up’ere. Ve must bargain mitt dem.
Kurda roughly jostled Bladd out of the way and stood in front of her father’s throne. No! I say tell dem to drop anchor outside de bay. Den dey must lower der rowin’ boat. Only der Cap’n an’ officers. I not havink de full crew o’ scum inside here. Yarr!
Agarnu did not like having his orders countermanded, but he saw the wisdom in Kurda’s statement and nodded to Riftun. Yarr, it be as she say. Bring de Cap’n an’ a few odders. Keep dem under close guard.
Riftun went back to the headland, taking with him a company of well-armed Ratguards.
Plugg, however, flatly refused to trek overland to the stronghold.
Filling his ship’s longboat with almost a score of crewbeasts, the fox had them row him up the fjord to the jetty, leaving Riftun and the others to march back along the meagre shoreline.
Riftun watched the Freebooters disembark. Blocking the jetty with his guards, he confronted the silver fox.
Leave yore weapons’ere, you ain’t allowed to walk in armed to a meetin’
with the Royal Family.
Plugg drew his axe, smiling dangerously. Stan’ aside an’ give way, soldier rat. Where a Freebooter goes,’is weapons go too!
Riftun held up a paw. His archers put shafts to string and stood with bows drawn. Now it was his turn to smile. You’ll carry out my orders or die!
Plugg did not seem unduly upset. He gestured back over his shoulder to a weasel balancing a lethal-looking stiletto by its blade tip. See Tazzin there? She kin throw a blade faster’n yore eye kin move. She can bring down a swallow on the wing. So if’n there’s any dyin’ t’be done, rat, you’ll be the first t’go. D’yew reckon y’can get’im through the eye, Tazzin?
The weasel was a stone-cold killer. She replied coolly, Yerrah, shore I can, Cap’n. Which eye d’ye fancy, left or right? I kin drop’im afore they move.
Brandishing his axe, Plugg pushed roughly past Riftun, chuckling to the shamefaced rat Commander. Don’t never try’n’ stop a Freebooter.
Yore only a landlubber, an’ lucky to still be alive, I reckon!
Shogg had lashed the tiller, leaving the small ship sailing on a straight course. He leaned over the side, surveying leagues of white-crested waves in every direction. Nowhere was there sight of land. Triss came up on deck from the cabin below, and she answered the otter’s wordless glance. Welfo still looks pretty ill.
Shogg squinted his eyes at the far horizon. Stands t’reason, she took a bad knock from that slingstone. I ain’t feelin’ too grand either.
There ain’t a scrap o’ food or a drop of fresh water aboard this craft.
Are ye sure there isn’t just a liddle bit o’ somethin’ stowed away, a flask of cordial or a mouldy old crust?
The squirrelmaid stretched her paws wide. Not a single thing. They were going to provision her that afternoon, but we stole the ship before they could. While you’ve been up here I’ve searched down below again.
All I could find was a couple of parchment scrolls, nothing else.
Shogg tightened his belt another notch. So, looks like we can starve t’death in freedom, mate. Let’s go an’ take a peek at those scrolls.
Who knows, there might be an island somewheres not too far off.
As the ship had no cargo holds, the cabin was fairly large and roomy, but low ceilinged. Welfo lay on a bunk, her head wrapped in a damp cloth.
The hogmaid was sleeping fitfully, tossing and turning. Triss did not like the look of her, seasick, hungry and injured. It was a worrying situation.
Shogg opened the two scrolls, shaking his head with disappointment.
He rapped his paw on the first one, calling Triss away from her patient.
Will ye come an’ take a look at this lot of ole rubbish? Wot’s all this gobbledygook supposed t’mean, eh?
The squirrelmaid peered closely at the symbols neatly marked out in black ink, recognising only a few. This little bit here at the top is the initials of the Royal House of Rift-gard. A mouseslave who was a woodworker told me he’d carved it into different objects many times: R.H.O.R. See.
The otter traced the symbols with his paw.
Of course, that’s even carved into the stern of this ship. But what does the other bit say, Triss?
Gnawing on a pawnail, Triss studied the rest closely. I can make out the odd letter here and there, but I’m sorry, mate, it doesn’t mean anything to me.
She continued to stare at the symbols.
I can make out the R, H, and O a few times, but I can’t make head or tail of the rest. Let’s take a look at the other scroll. That may be more helpful.
Shogg grew quite excited as he viewed the other chart. Haharr,’tis a map! I know this bit,’ere’s the place we come from, Riftgard: There’s the strong’old, the fjord, an’ the sea beyond. Strike me rudder, Triss, this is one big sea we’re sailin’ on. I never knew there was that much water in one place!