cut us off!
Oof! You keep der boat still, I bang mine head!
Prince Bladd crawled out from under the stern seat, where he had been sleeping. The Pure Ferret gazed up at them. You not Ratguards or Freebooters, vere you come from?
He attempted to rise, but Triss kicked him flat. Well, well, look who it is. We’re asking the questions now. How did you get here? Speak!
Bladd tried to scuttle back beneath the seat as Triss drew her dagger, but Shogg cuffed his ear sharply. Lay still, an’ answer the question!
Bladd glanced at the unconscious form of Plugg and began to whimper.
Dose Freebooters, dey alvays teasin’ me. I come here for der bit of peace und quiet, sleep under der seat. I am der Royal Prince, who are you?
Triss tapped Bladd’s nose with her blade. You don’t remember us, do you? Well, and why should you? We were only two miserable slaves, imprisoned at Riftgard just for the pleasure of your family. You hardly knew we were alive, save for the times you kicked us out of your way, or had some guard beat us for not bowing to you!
Recognition dawned on Bladd’s stricken features. You der slaves who steal diss boat from Riftgard. Please, it vas mine sister who put you in der cage, not me, no no!
Scarum called to them from his perch on the bows, I say, you chaps, don’t like to butt in on your jolly old reunion, wot. But I rather think those villains are hard on our trail. If we don’t shift ourselves, they’ll be dropping in for tea shortly, wot.
Shogg grinned wolfishly. Mayhap we’d be better light-enin’ our load by sendin’ these two fer a swim.
Kroova took a backward glance at the progress the Seascab was making.
The big ship was gaining bit by bit.
Not right now, mate. If’n I ain’t mistaken, there’ll be archers an’
slingers firin’ at us from’er bows, soon as they get in range. Tie those two up an’ sit’em both back’ere.
Scarum wiggled his ears. Super wheeze, old lad. Right, you two unsavoury types, prepare to defend our vessel!
Kurda braced herself in the bows of the Seascab, holding tight to the bowsprit riggings. Vorto, bring up de archers, diss ship be close enough soon. Den I slow dem up a bit. Yarr!
Tazzin climbed up alongside Kurda, rubbing at a lump the oarpole had raised. Look, they’re up to somethin’!
Hurrying to their positions, Ratguard archers set shafts to their bowstrings. The Seascab hove closer to the small craft. Riggan’s sharp eyes identified the two figures sitting upright and bound on the vessel’s stern seat.
Marm,’old yer fire, that’s Prince Bladd an’ Cap’n Plugg!
An evil smile lit up Kurda’s pink eyes. Yarr, so’tis. Who needs demÑI don’t.
The business edge of Plugg’s battle-axe prodded Kurda’s spine.
Slitfang’s voice ground out menacingly, I don’t care about yore fat stoopid brother, but Plugg Fire-tail’s our Cap’n. One arrow from yore guards an’ I’ll make two of ye with this axe, believe me, yer royalness!
Kurda never turned around, her body trembling with rage. Scum, you vill die for diss!
Slitfang prodded a bit harder. Aye, but not right now I won’t, missie.
I’m givin’ the orders,’cos I’m Cap’n when ole Plugg ain’t aboard the Seascab. Tell’em to stow those weapons.
Kroova whispered urgently to Shogg, We better do some-thin’ fast, mate, afore they ram us! That ship’s too big, an’ she’s comin’ up too fast.
Shogg sniffed the air and dabbled a paw over the side. Yore right. Give it a moment!
A stream of curses came from the wakened Plugg. Blister yore blubberin’
guts, streamdog. The tide’s startin’ to turn, ye connivin’ plank-tailed pup!
Shogg laughed. Thankee forbackin’ up my judgement, Cap’n. Yore right, the tide is turnin’. Good’n’heavy, too. Right, mates, ‘ang on tight,
‘ere we go. Kroova, take the tiller. Send ‘er round with all ye’ve got.
Haharr, haul on those port lines, Sagax, ‘tis our turn to slow them up a bit now!
Spinning almost on her own keel length, the little craft did a nimble half-circle turn, running a semicircle round the big, ungainly Seascab.
Slitfang roared back to Grubbage, Take ‘er round, they’ve turned tail on us. Take ‘er round!
Tazzin’s shout cut across the command shrilly. Slitty, git ropes out!
That streamdog’s just pushed the Cap’n an’ Prince Bladd overboard.
They’re in the sea!
Shogg had cut Plugg and Bladd’s bonds before he kicked them off the stern into the waves. Both beasts were floundering, waving wildly as the Seascab’s bow waves washed over them.
Bring ‘er about! Glubbleubble! Throw me a line, ye swabs!
Gallugallug! Help, I’m drownink, I cannot svim! Slitfang kept the battle-axe pressed against Kurda’s spine. Cap’n’s in the water, bring
‘er about quick! Ripper, Scummy, get those lines to midships. Yew ‘ang on, Cap’n, we’ll get ye out o’ there!
Kroova sent the vessel skimming and skipping over wave-crests, sailing dead east on the powerful sweep of a heavy running floodtide. Triss bared her teeth as she watched Bladd and Plugg being hauled aboard the Seascab. I would’ve liked to have tied a stone to that white ferret’s r>aws!
Shogg winked at the squirrelmaid. No ye wouldn’t Triss, yore made o’
better stuff than that. When the right day arrives, we’ll take our revenge face-to-face an’ sword-to-sword.
Triss’s paw trembled as she patted her friend’s back. You’re right, Shogg. 1 just felt so angry at letting him go that I had to say something.
Right now we’re relying on you and Kroova to lead them a dance around the reefs and shallows, where they can’t follow us.
Shogg sat down next to Kroova and placed his paw on the tiller. They looked ahead at the pounding surf breaking on the shore.
Shogg spoke. Due east, dead ahead, eh, mate?
Kroova nodded. Dead ahead it is, mate, let’s do it together!
Sagax was bending his back, straining against the humming sailropes, when he straightened up, alarmed. Dead ahead will take us crashing straight onto the shore. You’ll run us aground!
Triss blinked against the sun rising in splendour to the east. Oh, no it won’t. I know what you rascals are up to. Tell him, goon.
Both the otter’s paws were clasped on the tiller, as Kroova told Sagax what was on their minds. There’s one place that big ship don’t ‘ave a chance o’ follerin’ us, mate. Straight up the stream across the shore!
Scarum’s ears stood straight up in alarm. I say, steady on chaps, bit risky, ain’t it? What about the jolly old Stop-dog? I know she’s burned out, but the blinkin’ wreckage is still lyin’ in that stream. I mean, won’t that stop us, wot?
Shogg kept his eyes on the coastline ahead. Not at the rate we’ll be goin’, mate. I ‘ad it in me mind to do this afore we ever boarded this craft to rescue ye. It’ll take all of me an’ Kroova’s skills, but we’ll run on that floodtide like a pike after a waterfly. We’ll either crash through that wreckage or sink. Either way, ‘tis the best course to leave Plugg’s ship be’ind!
Scarum looked around for something to nibble on, but could find nothing in the way of food to comfort him. Good grief, is that really the plan, Kroova?