User blog:Verminfate/Fan fiction:The Land of Eternal Ice

Fan Fiction by User:Verminfate

Spoiler Warning!- This story contains spoilers for The Bellmaker, Loamhedge, and Rakkety Tam (book). If you have not read those books, do not read this story yet. Thanks!

Chapter 1
Some called her the Vicious One. Others called her The Lady of Death. But to all she was known as Skarvanda the Brutal. The huge wolverine ruled the far northlands known as the Land of Ice and Snow, and her heart reflected her kingdom. Cold, dark, and cruel. With her army of gray rats, white foxes, and ermine, she oppressed the creatures who lived in The Land of Eternal Ice. Her castle was massive and made of thick, solid ice. She had slaves to wait on her night and day, and if any of them disobeyed or fainted from hunger or cold, it would be fed to her flesh-eating army. The vermin who served her were ruthless, barbaric, and terrified of their ruler. Skarvanda the Brutal! She sat on her huge ice throne, her long, razor-sharp claws dug into the arms of it, and her cold, evil eyes seemed to be watching everything at once. A fox captain by the name of Kandrol, came into the throne-room and bowed, "You summoned me Mistress?" The wolverine's voice was low and grating, "Yes. Has the black ship returned?" The fox remained bowed as he replied, "Nay Mistress. I have had solders watching the sea both night and day and they have not seen anything as of yet." Skarvanda growled and said, "That searat must be back in three days or when he does return, he will suffer a long death." Kandrol shuddered as he saluted and then hurriedly left the room. The Lady of Death sighed and sat back on her throne. Sellikro the searat captain of the Hellfang, was her slaver and treasure-gatherer. He sailed across the western ocean to distant lands and stole loot from other ships and from the land. In return, he would get one-third of all the slaves and loot he gathered on his murderous voyages. Skarvanda had sent him out again and he had not returned. Suddenly a mouse slave who was carrying a pitcher of water, tripped and sent the water spilling everywhere. He looked up fearfully at the wolverine. She smiled evilly and called to her guards. Two ermine came in and dragged the mouse off. The other slaves looked on helplessly, knowing what the fate of the unfortunate mouse would be. Skarvanda the Brutal rose out of her ice throne and stalked over to the fallen pitcher. She drank the last of the water from it, and then smashed it in her huge claw. So would she crush any who dared to oppose her. The Vicious One, Skarvanda the Brutal!

Up on a high cliff overlooking the ice castle, a lone figure sat. Its hooded cloak blew in the chilling breeze. A gray rat came up behind it and spoke, "Um, Lord Lukros..." The creature turned, "What is it Gallwort?" His voice was smooth as silk, but deeply menacing. The rat shuffled his footpaws, "Well, I was just wondering if you would like a fire to, er, keep you warm?" The creature turned and looked at Gallwort, his dark, mysterious eyes watching the rat. Then he threw his hood back and Gallwort saw the face of Urgan Lukros. The huge wolf had silvery fur and a long bushy tail. His only clothing besides the cloak was a thick sharkskin belt. In it was thrust a long sabre. He bared his fangs at the rat as he replied, "I do not need a fire, rat! Remember that I, unlike you, was built for this weather, so get out of my sight!" Gallwort scurried off, and Lukros turned back to watch the castle with his dark eyes. One day he would rule it just as his ancestor, the great wolf Urgan had in the far past. But he had froze to death in a great blizzard and his skin taken by some lowly fox. His family had hide in the mountains and never reclaimed the throne. Then the wolverines had come! They came from the east, and being the strongest creatures in the Land of Eternal Ice, took the throne. Soon the wolves were almost extinct, but a small group had stayed in the mountains, waiting until the time was right to take back the Land of Ice and Snow. Now was the time! Lukros smiled wickedly to himself as he thought of the coming day when he would bring back the dynasty of the wolves and he would rule the frozen northland. He looked over at his army of vermin who were loyal to him. He was getting stronger every day, and soon he would attack the ice castle and restore his rightful place as king of the Land of Ice and Snow!

Another pair of eyes watched the castle as well. But they did not wish to conquer it, only to take revenge on that wolverine who had ruthlessly murdered his family when they refused to be her slaves. He stood over the bodies of three dead vermin and sheathed his axe. The creature watched and waited for the right moment when his revenge would be complete.

Chapter 2
Lord Lonna Bowstripe watched from his chamber window, seven creatures playing by the shore near Salamandastron mountain. The badger sighed as he looked down at his young daughter Melesme splashing in the waves with the young hares from the mountain. It had been fourteen seasons since Lonna had come to the mountain fortress of Salamandastron. In that time, he had met and married his wife, Cellindra, and they had a daughter. But Cellindra had died giving birth to Melesme, and Lonna was heartbroken. So far his reign had been a peaceful one- no vermin raiders, not one corsair ships sighted, and the toads that lived further south had never dared to attack them. He heard a sound at the door and turned to see who it was. A tall hare stood there a rapier at his side and sporting a green velvet coat. Lonna spoke to him, "What is it Sergent Gorsefield?" Sergent Danielo Gorsefield of the Long Patrol, saluted and said, "Captain Braebuck has returned sir." The big badger went passed him and down the stair, "Really? Why didn't you tell me before?" The hare followed him down as he replied, "Because he just came now sir." They went down into the mess hall and meeting room. There they saw about two score of Long Patrol hares talking, laughing, and shaking paws. Lonna Bowstripe went over to a tall hare with a big mustache. Lonna patted him on the back as he said, "Hortwill Braebuck, you've returned! How was your stay at Redwall?" The hare shook the badger's massive paw as he said, "Excellent! Absoballalutly top hole! But it's good to be back at the jolly old mountain, wot!" Then he turned to three other creatures who were standing behind him. "These are my good old sis and me best chums from my younger days. Meet again my sister Martha Braebuck and me pals Abbess Fenna and Springald, Recorder of Redwall Abbey, wot!" The big badger shook the paws of Fenna, a squirrel, Springald, a mouse, and Horty's siter Martha. Lonna smiled as he said, "I believe I have met you before. Welcome to Salamandastron." Martha looked around at the huge cavern, "Thank you sir. My, this is as big as Horty told us." They all sat down at the table and Lonna asked, "So, why did you come to Salamandastron?" Springald took a knapsack off her back as she replied, "Well, we've never seen the inside of this mountain before, so we decided to come and visit. If that's alright with you sir." Lonna Bowstripe smiled, "Yes it's perfectly alright. Though you may want to eat in a different room at meal time." Abbess Fenna was about to ask him why, when she figured it out. She grinned at Lonna and said, "I guess that eating in the same room with more than fifty hares would be just a bit chaotic, right?" The badger groaned, "You don't know the half of it!" Just then, a fat hare-nurse came in, followed by a group of young hares and Melesme. She ran over to Lonna, "Daddy lookit what I found!" In her paw she reveled a small conch-shell. Lonna picked it up and looked at it, "Yes, this is a nice find, Melesme. I wonder if I could blow in it to keep these crazy hares in order?" Horty chuckled, "I doubt that anybeast could keep these rascally new recruits in order, wot!" Springald nudged him, "Just like we were eh?"

Some time later supper was served. It was indeed chaos in the mess hall as the hares of Salamandastron took to doing their favorite thing. Eating. They passed around the food and called to each other. "I say there Flemmo old lad, would you be so kind as to pass me that leek and carrot stew?" "Humph! Pass you the stew! You'd just scoff it all down before anybeast else could get a bite!" "Hand over that pie once your through, but don't take to much you robber!" "Robber yourself! You've taken half of the chestnut salad, and the flan too!" Lonna Bowstripe, Martha, Fenna, Springald, and Melesme sat outside, enjoying their supper in peace. Fenna took a bite of nutbread and asked Lonna, "So have you had any trouble with vermin or anything?" The badger sighed, "Fortunately no. Times have been peaceful lately. I don't want Melesme to grow up in a war-torn environment and become like I once was." They all sat silently for a moment, then Martha said, "Well this is a fortress and there is sure to be some kind of invaders that will come. So she can't stay away from it forever." None of them knew how close that time really was.

Captain Sellikro of The Hellfang was not a happy rat as he stood on the deck of his ship and looked out at Salamandastron. His first mate, a fat ferret named Deadlug, came over to him and asked, "Why aren't we goin' back to that wolverine's land yet Cap'n?" The searat bit his lip, "Because that old tyrant's minions want us to get a personal slave for her, and none of the slaves we've got are suited to their likin'!" The ferret glanced over at a group of white vermin patrolling the deck. "So why are we goin' to that mountain Cap'n?" Sellikro placed his paw on the cutlass at his side, "Cause those white scum told me to at the point of a spear. I told them about the great warriors that live there, but they didn't listen." A tall, somber-faced ermine came over and placed the tip of his spear at the searat's neck, "Well now searat, when art thou going to raid yonder mountain?" Sellikro sneered, "I'll do it in me own time, Vargo, so leave me alone or I'll gut you." Vargo sniffed, "You know that her majesty will not be pleased if we are not back soon." The searat did not reply. The ermine strode away calling back, "So it would be in thy own best interest if thou captured a personal slave for her majesty very soon." Sellikro sighed and turned back to Salamandastron. Deadlug ventured a question, "So when are we gonna raid the mountain Cap'n?" The searat ground his teeth together, "We'll do it early tomorrow mornin'. There's sure to be somebeast about." Then he shuddered, "But I still don't like the idea of attacking that badger mountain."

Chapter 3
"Daddy Daddy, can I go down to the shore now?" Lonna Bowstripe awoke the next morning to the sound of Melesme leaping up and down and shouting. "Miss Fenna and Miss Martha an going down with me. Please Daddy can I?" The big badger sat up on his huge bed and yawned. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?" The young badger nodded, "Yes Daddy I have. Can I go?" Lonna smiled, "Of course you can my little one." Melesme gave a whoop of joy and darted out of the room. Lonna got up and looked out of his window at the morning sunlight lightly sparkling on the ocean waves. The badger touched the long scar running down his face. He sighed as he thought of his little daughter untouched by the cruel claw of war and suffering. He did not see the black ship drawn up near the shore.

Down on the beach, Melesme raced about, gathering seashells and playing in the surf. Martha Braebuck and Fenna sat on a rock watching her. The squirrel yawned and fluffed up her tail, "It's too bad that Springald and Horty were still asleep, they would have liked it down here." Martha smiled and felt the sand beneath her paws, "Yes, but even when he's in the Long Patrol my brother always sleeps in late." They both giggled at this. Then Melesme came running up. "Miss Martha! Miss Fenna! There's a big ship over there, come see!" They got up hurriedly and went over to where the badger pointed. Fenna gasped when she saw the ship. Then she turned and said to Martha, "Go back to the mountain and tell Lord Lonna about this!" Martha nodded and raced off. The squirrel grabbed Melesme and ducked down behind a rock. "We need to go back to your home now, there's bad creatures on that ship." Melesme peeked over the rock and screamed. Fenna looked up to see a skinny weasel standing over them and pointing at them with a dagger. "Hoi Cap'n!" he yelled. "I found something over 'ere!" Fenna leaped up and pushed Melesme towards Salamandastron, "Hurry get back to the mountain!" "I am afraid that thou art too late for that squirrel!" Vargo the ermine leader of the white vermin stood in front of them, with a dozen vermin behind him. He brandished his double-pointed spear and smiled, "Queen Skarvanda will be pleased with this catch." Captain Sellikro came over and whispered to the ermine, "Okay, you got what you want, now can we get away from this cursed place?!" Vargo gave a nod and the white vermin surrounded Fenna and Melesme. The squirrel bared her teeth, "Stay back you scum! I've faced better fighters than you!" Vargo grinned evilly, "Thou art mistaken. For the beasts of the Land of Eternal Ice are greater fighters than any." He leaned down close to Fenna and whispered, "We eat the flesh of our enemies!" Then he stood and called to his vermin, "Bind them and take them back to the ship!"

The door of Lonna Bowstripe's room burst open and Martha came panting in, followed by Horty and Springald. Lonna saw that something was wrong. "What is it Martha?" The haremaid gasped as she said, "A vermin ship sir! Fenna told me to come back and tell you about it. I don't know what happened to her and Melesme." Lonna Bowstripe leaped up and grabbed his huge bow and his quiver of arrows. He raced out the door with Horty and Springald running after him. Sergent Gorsefield leaped out of the way as the big badger came running by him. When Horty and Springald came down he asked them, "What's the blinkin matter with him?" Hortwill Braebuck had drawn his scimitar and called back as he ran past, "There's some flippin vermin out there with Abbess Fenna and Melesme!" The Sergent followed after them, his rapier in his paw.

Lonna Bowstripe was pounding his way across the beach, an arrow already loaded in his bow. The last of the vermin were boarding the ship, dragging Fenna and Melesme along with them. Captain Sellikro saw the huge badger racing along the shore and screamed, "See, I told ya! There's mighty warrior badgers in that mountain! Now we're gonna all be slain!" Vargo smacked him across the face, "We shall not be slain if we cast off now!" He roared to the vermin, "Put the prisoners down in the hold! Hoist the anchor and set sail!"

Lonna roared in fury when he saw the Hellfang's anchor being drawn up and the sails furled. Even as he ran, he sighted at the ship and fired an arrow. The shaft buried in the side of the ship and Lonna ran faster. Sellikro had taken control of the ship now and Vargo called the archers. The vermin archers fired at the badger but the shafts fell short. Another huge arrow flew up from the beach, impaling two vermin on it. Lonna just got to the waters edge, when the ship cast off and went out to sea.

Lonna Bowstripe stood in the shallow water, tears of rage coursing down his face. Horty, Springald and Gorsefield came running up and watched as the Hellfang sailed further out to sea. Horty sheathed his blade and asked sadly, "Did the scum take Fenna and Melesme with them?" Lonna's breath rasped through his clenched teeth, "Yes! And they will pay dearly for it! I will get them back, even if I have to go to the ends of the earth I will get back my daughter!" Springald wept quietly, and Sergent Gorsefield and Horty looked at each other. They knew that Lonna Bowstripe meant every word he said.

Chapter 4
Fenna struggled wildly against the ropes that bound her and Melesme. A gray rat that was holding the rope kicked at her, "Be still squirrel, or I'll slit your throat!" Fenna bit the rat's footpaw, and he screamed and fell to the deck. Vargo came hurrying over, "What is going on over here?" Fenna glared at him, "Let us go right now scumface!" Vargo held the point of his spear against her neck, "Very well, but be warned, if I were to let thee free, thou would have to swim for the shore. And it's a long way." He led them over to the ship's rail. Fenna gasped and Melesme started crying. The shores of Mossflower faded far off onto the horizon. Vargo smiled, "So make thy choice. Wilt thou into the sea, or will thee stay safe on this ship?" The squirrel sighed and lowered her head. The ermine laughed and waved his paw, then the white vermin dragged the two prisoners down into the hold. A white fox guard chained them to a rail on the wall. Fenna kicked out at him and the fox snarled, "Cease struggling, thou will get used to it down here." Melesme whispered to Fenna, "Where are they taking us?" The squirrel shook her head sadly, "I don't know Melesme. But we'll soon find out." They looked around at the other captives. There were mostly woodlanders, mice, squirrels, otters, shrews, and hedgehogs. But Fenna was surprised to see a small group of vermin huddled in a corner. They did not look like corsairs or like any of the strange white vermin neither, and they too were chained. She overheard one of them, a stoat, talking to another stoat, "Ah sure now, ain't this a grand spot of trouble we've got ourselves in. We had a good life down in the southlands. But then we had to go to the shore, and what do we find? A whole lot o'those white critters and pirates just a waitin' there. And no sooner do we meet 'em when pore old Halfchop had to talk." The other stoat, a female, nodded sadly, "Aye, that's when they said we wouldn't be good at any kind of sailin' or fightin'." The other stoat sighed, "And now Crinktail me old mate, we're stuck here in this ol' ship just wait'n to go who knows where!" Fenna was amazed, why would vermin capture other vermin as slaves and prisoners? She whispered to the male stoat, "Excuse me, but what are you doing down here?" The stoat turned to her, "Ah sure, we're goin' off to be slaves in some faraway place sure enough. Me name is Flinky, and this is me mate Crinktail." The squirrel wasn't sure weather or not she should tell them her name, but they seemed harmless enough so she said, "My name is Fenna, and this young badger is Melesme. We were captured too." She looked at the other vermin in the corner, "And are they with you?" Flinky nodded, "Aye, Those two weasels over there are Slipback and Juppa. The ferret with the big hooter is good old Plumnose. The rat is Halfchop, he ain't in his right mind ya see..." Halfcop turned and smiled at them, "Kachunk!" Flinky sighed, "Ya see? Now then, those other two weasels are brothers, Rogg an' Floggo. They're archers you see, but they just got their bows taken away by those scummy white critters." Fenna could tell that Flinky loved to talk. The stoat then pointed to a small fox sitting by himself, "And that is, er, Badredd." Flinky quickly changed the subject, "Aye, and where are you from?" Fenna hesitated, then she said, "Er, Mossflower area." Flinky nodded, "Aye, so are we. But we had a little run in with a place called Redw- Ouch!" Crinktail had kicked him in the leg and whispered to him, "Don't mention that place, remember?" Flinky nodded. Everybeast was silent for a moment, then Melesme said, "Are you sure you don't know where we're going Mr. Flinky?" The stoat shrugged, "Sure as ever. But I could ask the guards." He called to the white fox guard, "Ah sure yer honor, would you be so kind as to tell us where we're goin'?" The fox drew his sword and placed the tip of it on the stoat's nose, smiling wickedly, "Thou art all going to be slaves for Queen Skarvanda the Brutal, Great Wolverine Lady of Death, in The Land of Eternal Ice!"

Chapter 5
Just then, in that land spoken of, Urgan Lukros was planning his first move. He sat on the cliff, conversing with his three captains. Two gray rats, Gallwort and Zegg, and an ermine named Swelk. Lukros had decided to first make a "peaceful" attempt for the surrender of the Ice Castle. Gallwort and Swelk both agreed on this, but Zegg was not satisfied, "Why don't we attack them when their not ready, instead of asking them to peacfuly surrender?" The wolf stared hard at him, "So, you think that your plan will be better eh?" The rat nodded, "Aye, the only language wolverines know is one of violence. She'd never surrender that easily." Lukros smiled at Zegg and said in a calm voice, "So you are saying that you are more clever than I?" Zegg hesitated, "Well, not exactly. But I think that your plan has no strategy in it." The wolf stood, his paw on his sabre hilt, "My plan has plenty of strategy in it, rat! By making a peaceful move first, I will get to see the castle up close, I will not loose any soldiers, I can spot every weakness in it's walls, and..." He smiled wickedly, "They may even let us in!" Gallwort and Swelk stared in awe at their leader, but Zegg was still adamant. "Fighting our way in is the only way to victory I say!" Lukros drew his sabre, "So you think that violence will solve everything?" The rat thought a moment, "Yes. It will solve this problem." "Indeed it will!" With one swing of his long sabre, the wolf slew Zegg on the spot. He took a cloth from his belt and gently wiped his blade. Then he sat down and spoke to his remaining captains, "He is right you know. Violence will solve some problems." The vermin stared at him, puzzled. He smiled, "Like rebellion and disobedience!" He stood and motioned to them, "Come, get a score of soldiers and let us go to the Ice Castle."

A white fox up on the wall above the entrance to the Ice Castle, saw Urgan Lukros and his followers coming. He called down to them, "What art thou doing here?" The wolf looked up and shouted back, "I wish to speak to your mistress, Skarvanda the Brutal!" The fox came down from the wall and wnet to get Commander Kandrol. The big fox came up to the wall and called down, "Why do you wish to speak to her majesty the Queen?" Urgan Lukros called up, "It is none of your business, fox!" Kandrol growled, "Thou may come in, but do not bring any of your creatures with thee!" Lukros nodded, "That is fine." The gates swung open and Urgan Lukros walked into the Ice Castle. The wolf smiled as he gazed around at the castle. One day this would all be his! Four guards escorted him into the throne room. Queen Skarvanda the Brutal sat upon her throne. She looked up and narrowed her eyes when she saw the wolf. She growled to Kandrol, "What does this creature want?" The fox bowed, "He wishes to speak to you, Mistress." Lukros stepped forward, "O great wolverine ruler, I come before you to give you some important information." Skarvanda stared intently at him, "And what is this information?" The wolf bowed, "I came to humbly tell you..." He suddenly stood and drew his sabre, "That this land and this castle are rightfuly mine!" The wolverine stood up, "What didst thou say?" The wolf pointed his sabre at her, "I am Urgan Lukros, the last descendant of the great wolf Urgan, who ruled The Land of Eternal Ice for many seasons! You wolverines stole the throne from my ancestors, and now I am going to take it back!" Skarvanda laughed, "Ha! Thou art only one beast. Thou will never be able to defeat me. Guards! Take this insane creature away and execute him." The guards came forward, but Lukros bowled into them and slew them all with a few swings of his blade. More guards came charging up, but the wolf was unstoppable. Skarvanda watched as Lukros slew every guard that came near him. Finally, no more of the vermin dared to go near the vicious wolf. Lukros laughed and wiped his blade, "Even though I alone could defeat your whole army, I have more than two hundred creatures with me. And they all want me as ruler!" With that, he stalked out of the throne room. Kandrol yelled, "Close the gates!" But none of the vermin guards wanted to get in the wolf's way. Urgan Lukros walked out of the castle and back to his army. Gallwort asked him, "So did you find out anything?" The wolf kept walking, "I found that the buffoons who follow that wolverine are weak. If we have good strategy, I will succeed! It is now war!" His army followed after him up into the snow covered hills and forests.

Kandrol kicked a dead rat as he spoke to Skarvanda, "That wolf will not win, your majesty. For thou art to strong." The wolverine queen sat on the throne, her evil eyes staring straight ahead. The fox commander repeated, "I said, your majesty..." The wolverine glared at him, "Silence fool! Thou thinks that this will be an easy task, defending this fortress. It will not be. That creature is powerful, more powerful than thou wilt ever be." She looked down at the carcasses strewn about the floor. She smiled, "At least he provided some food for my army." Kandrol nodded then he called some guards who came and dragged away the bodies. Kandrol was about to leave the room too, when the Lady of Death spoke to him, "Place guards on the walls day and night, and..." She narrowed her eyes, "Keep watching for the black ship." Kandrol bowed and left the room. The wolverine sat, thinking. This was now war, and she had to win.

Chapter 6
Lonna Bowstripe had locked himself in his chamber-room and had not come out for almost a whole day. He was deeply troubled by the fact that he had no ship to sail after the vermin who took his daughter. He sat on his great bed, fletching an arrow, when he heard a knock at the door. He got up and opened it to find Martha standing there. "May I come in?" she asked. Lonna nodded and then went back to fletching his arrow. Martha watched him for awhile, then said, "You probably miss Melesme, don't you?" The badger sighed and picked up another shaft. The haremaid looked down at the floor, "Me and Horty and Springald miss Fenna too." She looked up at him, "Is there any way we can buy or find a ship, sir?" Lonna put down the arrow and gazed out of the window, "I don't know of anybeast around here that owns any kind of ship, and we've never really had a need for one in the past." Just then a voice came from the door, "Well I happen to know just the very chap who can help us, wot!" They both looked up to see Sergent Danielo Gorsefield standing in the doorway. Lonna was surprised, "Who? And why didn't you tell me before?" The hare bowed, "So sorry sir, but I didn't think that you wanted any visitors at the moment, so I decided to wait until you came out." The badger lord stood up, "But who is it, Sergent?" Gorsefield smiled, "Why it's an old mate of mine, a sea otter and a jolly good sailor. He owns a ship The Pearl Queen. Best ship on the blinkin seas, wot!" Martha and Lonna spoke together, "But what's his name?" The Sergent straightened his coat, "His name is Nauruto Galedeep."

Lonna Bowstripe, Martha, Horty and Springald followed Sergent Gorsefield down the beach and south-west slightly inland. They came to a small inlet where a ship was anchored. A big, jolly-looking sea otter was sitting on the bow, playing a stange looking musical instrument and singing a raucus sea song. Sergent Gorsefield called up to him, "What ho! Are you still trying to imitate seagulls with that flippin voice of yours? You old sea dog!" The otter looked over the ship's rail and laughed, "Haharr! Danielo me old mate, the last time I clapped eyes on you, ye could barely wield a blade!" Then he lowered the gangplank and they all climbed aboard. Nauruto Galedeep was a big, strong-looking sea otter, with an eye-patch over his right eye and a whiskery beard. Across his back was strapped two curved blades in their sheathes. He and Gorsefield embraced and shook paws. Then he turned to the others, "Well now, who are yer friends, and what do ye want with an old sea dog like me, eh?" Each of them introduced themselves, last being Lonna. Nauruto grinned uneasily when he shook the badger's massive paw, "Stap me, I'd hate to be the creature that messes with you, yer honor!" Lonna Bowstripe sighed and shuddered, "It's good to meet you Nauruto. But the reason that we came was to see if you could take us out to sea on your ship. Yesterday my daughter and the Abbess of Redwall, were kidnapped by searats and some white vermin, and I need to follow the vermin ship to get them back." The sea otter ground his teeth, "Rotten, murderin' scum! Fancy them daring to even try and take the daughter of a badger lord. I'll help ye in any way that I can." Horty asked him, "So when do we start old lad?" Nauruto chuckled, "Well, I've just been sittin' here for the past week, so I'm all ready to leave right now. But it all depends on you yer honor." He nodded to Lonna Bowstripe. The big badger thought for a moment, "Well, we'll need to stock up for the voyage. I'll be taking most of the Long Patrol hares with me." The sea otter groaned, "More hares that's all I'll need seein' as though I'll be cooking for everybeast." Horty patted him on the back, "Don't worry old lad, I'll help you down in the jolly old galley. I'm very well known to be an expert cook, doncha know!" Springald giggled, "That is if you like fried fruit salad!" Horty sniffed, "Humph! I should think that you would be over that by now. Though I promise not to make anything "unedible" for those touchy beasts!" Nauruto licked his lips, "Fried fruit salad eh? That sounds good to a beast that's been eatin' skilly n' duff for all his life." Lonna cleared his throat. The sea otter turned to him, "Beg pardon, sir. So when would you like to set sail?" The badger answered, "First thing tomorrow morning."

Chapter 7
Early the next morning, the soon-to-be travelers set off. Lonna Bowstripe had sent a few of his Long Patrol runners back to Redwall Abbey to let the Abbeybeasts know of what was happening. The Pearl Queen had been anchored just off the coast of Salamandastron. There were forty Long Patrol hares going on the voyage, along with Lonna, Captain Horty, Springald, Martha, and of course, Nauruto Galedeep. The sea otter stood at the ships wheel, belowing out orders, "Alright you lazy landlubbers, hoist the main-sail and draw anchor! We're putting out to sea!" The hares, who knew very little about sailing, ran about not sure what to do. Nauruto sighed and showed them what everything was called and what it did. Soon the hares of the Long Patrol were as fit of sailors as anybeast. Even Horty and Springald learned how to sail a ship. Then they were off to sea. Nauruto Galedeep gave a whoop and set the ship's course for north, then he came down and sat on the deck with Lonna, Martha, Horty and Springald. He sighed as he sat on a bench, "Ahh, it's good to be back at sea. I haven't been on a real voyage since me daddy was still around." Springald had been thinking for awhile and then something came to her, "You said that your name was Galedeep, right?" The sea otter nodded, "Aye that's me name all right. Why'd ye ask?" The mouse pursed her lips, "Well, in my studies as Recorder at Redwall Abbey, I came across the name of a sea otter from long ago in the days of Abbot Saxtus and Warriormouse Mariel." Nauruto smiled, "And what was his name?" Springald thought for a moment, "I think it was Finnbarr Galedeep as I recall. Do you know of him?" Nauruto's grin widened, "Aye, I do sure enough. He was my great, great, great, great grandsire, or something like that. In fact, this ship, the Pearl Queen, and these blades..." He drew the twin swords from off of his back, "belonged to him." Springald interrupted, "But I thought that after Finnbarr died his blades were kept at Redwall?" Nauruto watched the sun rays glint off of his swords, "Aye, so they were. But a long while ago, my great grandsire went to Redwall. He told them that he was the descendant of the owner of those blades. They weren't sure at first, but then they gave him the swords. He passed them down to my grandsire, and he passed them down to my father, who passed them down to me. This ship as well." Horty stared at the twin blades, "My word! Those are two of the most deadly blades I ever saw. Wouldn't want to be the blighter who crosses paths with you, wot!" "And hopefully we will cross paths with them soon!" They all turned to look at Lonna, who had spoken. Horty asked him, "Indeed sah, but what if the cads are too far away to catch. Or they go a different way than we do?" The badger stared straight ahead, "They won't. I know they won't." There was silence for a moment, then Martha asked, "How do you know sir?" Lonna closed his eyes, "It was said that I was born with the gift of being a seer. I can see the near future or far away present things. And now I just have the feeling that we are going in the right direction and that my daughter and Fenna are safe." Everybeast was quiet for a few minutes, then Nauruto leaped up, "Well, I best be getting breakfast ready. Come on Horty, let's go make some breaky." The hare followed after him, "Right away sah! And by the way, did you know that we're both captains? I'm a captain in the Long Patrol, and your the captain of this jolly, old ship. Strange, wot!" Before Nauruto could reply, a shout was heard from the lookout hare, "Land ahoy!"

Captain Sellikro strode the deck of The Hellfang and breathed in the sea air. He was in a good mood today. The weather had been perfect and he had got all the slaves he needed. Not only that, but Vargo, the ermine leader, had not been pestering and threatening him. The searat knew that he would be punished when he got back, for being late, but he had been thinking of a plan. He would let Vargo, his vermin, and some of the slaves go to shore in the life-boat. Then he would be free to sail off to sea and never answer to anybeast again. He chuckled at his scheme. The only other creature whom he told was his first-mate, the ferret Deadlug. Deadlug didn't like to be bossed around by the white vermin either, so he agreed fully to the plan. The ferret could only think of one problem, "But Cap'n, what if Vargo asks why we aren't goin' ashore too?" Sellikro tapped his head, "I've already thought of a plan for that, Deadlug. I'll tell him that I need to make some repairs on me ship. When he asks why I can't let my crew do it, I'll tell him that they don't know exactly where it is, or how to fix the problem. Then he'll probably say that I could fix it and then come to shore. If'n he leaves some of his soldiers with us, we'll just kill'em right easily." Deadlug thought for a moment the chuckled, "Heeheehee! That sure is a clever plan Cap'n." The searat stroked his cutlass, "That's why I'm the Captain." Just then Vargo came striding up, "Fine weather we have had isn't it?" Sellikro nodded. The ermine twitched his tail, "We shall be coming into the cold seas soon. What do you suppose we do?" Sellikro loved it when they got to this past of the voyage. This was the only time that Vargo actually put him in charge. He straightened up and tried to look important, "Well, if'n those icebergs are comin' up soon, than we'll have to keep a sharp lookout." Suddenly, Deadlug pointed and said, "Aren't those storm-clouds Cap'n?" The searat looked over at the dark shapes on the horizon and sighed, "So they are, but..." He leaped up, "Stormclouds! It'll be hard enough sailing in these already rough seas, but a storm!" He roared out to his crew, "Batten down the hatches! Hoist all sails! Get ready for a storm mates!" Vargo smiled at him as raindrops already started to spatter on the deck. "It looks as if thou are not in complete control of everything." The searat sneered at him, "Not like you can control the weather either, Vargo!"

Down in the prisoners hold, everybeast (except the guards) had fallen asleep. Flinky and his gang lay snoring in a heap, while Melesme and Fenna slept huddled next to each other. Fenna was sleeping fitfully, tossing and turning. Then she had the dream. In it, she saw two figures. They walked up to her and she recognized them. It was Bragoon and Saro! She was about to say something to them, when they held up a paw for silence. Bragoon and Saro stepped forward, and spoke together, "Do not worry, for those who love you are coming to rescue you, you will find help in the unexpected, and the speckled one will save you from the Vicious One." And with that, they disappeared. Suddenly Fenna woke up to the wild movement of the ship. Everybeast else had woken up as well. Melesme shivered, "What's happening?" The ship rocked again and Flinky almost rolled across the floor, but his chain held him. He shrugged, "Well now, I'm not really sure, but it could be a storm." His theory was confirmed when a call was heard from the upperdeck, "It's a storm mates! Get ready, it's a big'un!"