| Subject: Mmm, thankee. Chapter Two. |
Author:
Retina
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Date Posted: 15:19:24 01/02/03 Thu
In reply to:
Retina
's message, "The Alliance Saga: Novel" on 20:36:34 12/28/02 Sat
Chapter Two
Aroye Bankland, captain of the Waterfern, was distressed, and watching corsairs pile out of the ships that had docked on the shore only furthered his unease. Turning to the other sea otter by his side, he sighed. "The attack will begin soon."
Brook Streamwilt said, "May the gods be with Lord Darien an' his crew. If Salamandastron falls, we cannot win against the Enemy."
"They can hold," Aroye said firmly. "They can retreat if needed, and their provision supply will hold until help arrives."
The female sea otter nodded, and then after a hesitant pause, suggested, "We should help."
"Aye," spoke up a new voice. A harvestmouse sauntered up, a blue bandana tied around his forehead. He nodded in respectful greeting before continuing, "We hold almost five score on our ship. Salamandastron could use our help. Besides, if the corsairs win this battle, then they'll have control over the southwestern shore. That could prove disasterous for us."
Aroye nodded. "Alright then. Take th' tiller, mate, and set course straight ahead, quick as y'like. Brook, ready th' crew. S'been a while since we had a good scrap." A wry grin crossed the sea otter's face. "This should prove to be...nice."
-*-
The hare was creme-furred, and had a longbow at her side as she stood in front of the open window in the dormitories. She drew a violet-fletched arrow and notched it to the bowstring, aiming quickly. Her target was far, but her skill proved successful. Smirking inwardly as she saw the patch of brown fur she had been aiming at topple over, she drew another arrow just as quickly as she had fired the previous, and then let her bow slacken as she heard approaching footsteps. Captain Ralysa Duneskate turned and smiled dryly at the major.
"Nice day fer an indoor walk, wot?"
Bracken nodded in greeting, taking up the spot at the open window next to Ralysa. "Aye, pity those blighters are takin' up all the space out there, or maybe I might of gone fer an outdoor one."
Ralysa tightened her bowstring, letting loose another arrow. It flew, whistling through the air to bury itself into an unsuspecting corsair's back. The hare captain only nodded in satisfaction. "They make good targets, though."
Hiding a smile, Bracken shook his head in a reprimanding manner and said, "Does Lord Darien know you're shooting at th' blinkin' vermin?"
"No. An' he doesn't have to," was the firm reply.
The Major sighed, and tried to keep a stern tone, but the way his lips twitched upward betrayed his voice. "'Lysa..."
"Bracken..." Ralysa countered, rolling her eyes, then drew another arrow. "Loosen up; it won't do no difference where or when I kill them, as long as I kill them."
"You might provoke an earlier attack," Bracken said. "And the Lord is still organizing the troops."
The captain cursed quickly as her arrow fell short of her target, and then cringed at the look her commanding officer threw her. Loosening her grip on her longbow, the fem hare sighed. "Fine, if it'll get you off my back, I'll stop. So, why'd you come up here anyway? Aren't you supposed to be wi' Roamheart?"
Bracken said, "Lord Darien wants all the recruits, officers, an' whatnot, in the mess hall, an' I figured y'd be here, so I came up to fetch you."
"How nice," Ralysa sighed as the two of them headed out of the dormitories. "A farewell speech, I suppose."
The major raised an eyebrow, commenting, "You're being sour today. Nervous?"
"Like hell," the captain replied, and then groaned at her friend's stern look. "What? Can't I even say 'hell'?"
Though he snickered, Bracken didn't bother to reply, and instead led Ralysa into the mess hall, where a crowd of around five hundred hares were waiting for the arrival of Lord Darien Roamheart. Most eyes turned to the two when they entered, and the two officers immediately suspected that they had been waiting for them. With a polite nod, the badgerlord turned his gaze from specifically the two hares who had just entered to all of the five-hundred hares. His loud voice rang throughout the mess hall, breaking the uneasy silence.
"My good hares! It has been an honor for me to live, fight, and breath among such excellent and perilous creatures."
Applause followed, and Ralysa turned to Bracken and pulled a long face. "Yea, 'tis a farewell speech."
"Hush!" Bracken hissed, then averted his attention back to Darien.
"Today, dangerous foebeasts have landed upon our shores. It is our duty to fend them off, before they continue inward. They outnumber us three to one, but if they think it an easy task to take the southwestern coast from our paws, then they are in for a shocking surprise!"
Thus arose another ragged cheer, followed by enthusiastic comments.
"We're with you to the end, sire!"
"Aye, give 'em a good scrap to remember, wot!"
Lord Darien beamed widely. "I am proud to lead you all! Let us give them a fight to remember, Salamandastron style!"
Amid the loud cheering and hoots, orders from the General and Colonel of Salamandastron could be heard. Hares filed to their stations quickly, and Bracken and Ralysa began heading out. The captain threw her friend a quick grin.
"This is it, wot! Funny, my butterflys have flown off."
"That's cause the sire's speech was a miracle worker," Bracken replied matter-of-factly, not bothering to hide his smile.
Ralysa smirked. "I wouldn't go that far, wot! So then, ole Brackers ole chap, where are you headed?"
"I'll be takin' my place out wi' the left flank, under the General," the major replied. "And you?"
With a casual shrug, the captain said breezily, "I'm stationed up at the bay window with the Brig. Y'know, sharpen up our aim a liddle bit before we catch up wi' you lot." After a quick look around, Ralysa gave her friend a parting smile. "Looks like I'm off. Toodle pip, ole chap. See you on the battlefield; an don't get yerself slain, a'ight? Cause I'll kill you if you do."
"I'll hold you to the same, m'gel!" Bracken grinned and waved as the haremaiden continued down the corridor, where as he approached the gate. Saluting quickly to the General, he glanced sparingly out the nearby window. Crowds and crowds of corsairs lined up the southwestern beach. Bracken sighed bitterly. 'Well, let's get to it.'
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