It was an unspectacular and muddy dawn that greeted the residents of Minga. The harbor, as it had been since the arrival of the Scarlet Brotherhood, was full of ships at anchor. A line of smaller boats and a few large ships were in a jagged single queue awaiting inspection by the blockading Brotherhood ships in hopes that they would be allowed out into the sea to pursue their journeys and earn their livings.

Smaller boats, including the modest local fishing fleet were allowed out undeterred, but all larger ships were boarded and searched. Most of the larger vessels were merchant ships, either transporting goods out of Minga or going to secure goods to bring back. Any fully laden ship desiring to cross the Brotherhood's blockade found themselves paying tribute, usually in the form of cargo. It was a clever ploy by the monks, allowing themselves to be effectively resupplied without ever having to either pay or go ashore.

Many ships were turned back. There was a list of reasons why a vessel would not be allowed across the line. First and foremost was if the ship or it's crew was in anyway armed. Knives and small axes were allowed since these were necessary in the day to day operation of any sea-going vessel, but anything larger was strictly forbidden.

Another reason for challenge were vessels whose crew number exceeded twenty. Finally and possibly the most nefarious reason for not allowing a ship to leave Minga was if it or its crew in anyway aroused the suspicion of the monks, a broad criteria that was consistently abused.

This particular morning, the first ship to reach the inspection point was a merchant vessel laden with honey, olive oil, marinated olives, and wine from the surrounding countryside. She was set to depart for Seth-e-Raman and its markets. The inspecting monks were pleased with the cargo and quickly secured several casks of wine, honey, and oil for themselves and their accompanying ships before letting the merchant craft proceed on its voyage.

The next ship in line was the Windspirit. It pulled alongside the inspection vessel. Prince Vasheron strode to the rail and called out to the Brotherhood ship.
"As you know, we have been called back to Xenoth by Azmeritus! Let us pass!"

There was some quick conversation on the Brotherhood ship followed by a loud voice.
"We have been informed of your mission, Prince. You are free to pass this line, but you will need to stop alongside our flagship, the Neure, and show our commander the prized cargo which you are delivering."

"We will do so," Vasheron assured them. He ordered the lines holding them secure to the Brotherhood ship cast off. The Windspirit slowly made its way past the line and out into the narrows where the Neure waited.

Squeeker and Squawker Fishpaw were, by this time, a pair of terribly unhappy and terrified beasts. When they first pulled into Minga, the brothers had had every intention of jumping ship and abandoning the Windspirit once and for all. The unexplained murder of the ship's boatswain by Prince Vasheron had been the determining factor in their decision to desert the ship.

The pair had already been predisposed to leaving due to their fear of both the Deev and the Scarlet Brotherhood. When it became apparent to the brothers that in their present situation, they would be forced to interact with both groups, sleepless nights and thoughts of flight began to become more frequent.

Upon their arrival in Minga, the Fishpaws were mortified to discover that whenever they left the ship for errands, they would be accompanied by a Deev officer to prevent exactly the desertion they had been planning. The brothers convinced themselves to be patient and even displayed a false enthusiasm to the officers in the hope that at some time in the near future they would be trusted enough to go on errands by themselves and thus be able to make good their escape.

Early in the morning before dawn, the entire crew of the Windspirit had been awakened by Captain Mobus and told to prepare the ship for departure and to prepare themselves for battle. This was not news that sat well with Fishpaws, but there was no recourse for them but to once more put on the pretense of enthusiasm, though no portion or fragment of their being felt even remotely enthusiastic.

Their strategy was confirmed when a fellow crew-beast named Dumper protested and was promptly whipped and beaten by the Deev. As if all these unfortunate circumstances weren't enough to completely dishearten the ferret brothers, no sooner had the sun begun to rise when an entire crew-load of pirates under the command of a fierce-looking fox began to board the Windspirit and secret themselves below deck. All were dangerous looking beasts and armed to the teeth.

When the anchors were raised and the mainsail set, the Fishpaws' immediate responsibilities in the ship's departure were completed. They were instructed to remain above deck and await further orders. Squeeker motioned his brother to join him under a small overturned dory which rested on a barrel of water towards the bow of the ship. Squawker shimmied his substantial girth under the small vessel and sat cross-legged staring at his brother in desperation.
"We're gonna die, ain't we Squeek?" he asked sadly.

"Yeah, probably," his brother answered softly, "we definitely picked the wrong ship ta work on."

"I don't wanna die, Squeek, there's lotsa stuff I still wants to see."

"You and me both. We got to be smart about this," he said with conviction.

Squawker looked heartbroken.
"You know I ain't smart...it ain't fair that we gotta be smart."

Squeeker patted his brother sympathetically on the back.
"Don't fret none. I'll try ta be smart for both of us." He pointed out from under the dory toward the forecastle, "What we gotta do is make sure there's always somebody in front of us atwixt the sharp pointy swords and such and our soft furry bodies. Now the ways I figger it is dat those pirates we're hidin' below deck are real anxious to slash and kill, dat's what pirates seem to like ta do. Anyways, when Vasheron orders the attack, we yell and scream, real blood-curdling-like and charge...real slow...maybe trip or sumpthin'.

Squawker perked up.
"I can trip real good, Squeek...real good. What den?"

"Then we let's the pirates charge past us and hope we win and ain't killed."

Squawker smiled and patted his brother firmly on the back.
"Dat sounds like a real good plan! I'm lucky I got a smart brother like you!"

Squeeker looked at his brother and shook his head.
"You understand that we're still probably gonna end up dead, doncha Squawker?"

"Yeah," the large weasel smiled, "but at least we got a plan."

The two weasel brothers remained hidden under the small boat as the Windspirit made its first stop at the Brotherhood blockade and was instructed to continue to the Neure for inspection. Their absence was not noted since every other crew-beast, the Deev included, were pre-occupied with thoughts of the upcoming battle.

Squawker actually managed to fall asleep in the cozy confines of the dory, but Squeeker remained alert, his heart beating like a snare drum at the prospect of the inevitable clash.

When the Windspirit was well past the initial blockade and about halfway to the Neure, Prince Vasheron and Captain Mobus left the helm and walked back to the bow, stopping a few feet in front of the overturned shelter in which the Fishpaw brothers were secreted. Squeeker held his breath nervously while Squawker snored gently, much to his brother's chagrin. Vasheron leaned over the rail and after insuring that no other crew members were within listening distance, addressed his subordinate.

"We must be swift when the time comes. I will go aboard the Neure with a handful of regular crew, the remaining Deev will be in smoke form when we pull along side. After we have eliminated the deck crew, we will take half the pirates aboard and make ready to steer back into the blockade from the rear. Captain Redbush and the remainder of his and our crew with you in charge will take the Windspirit close by the last Brotherhood ship.   

"She must be crippled at all costs. If she sees what we are doing, she will break for Xenoth and warn Azmeritus. That ship is the fastest in the harbor and we would never catch her in time, so she must be well sunk...set her aflame, that should do it. Don't pass too close or they'll become suspicious. Grapple her...get on board...and light her afire. The smoke rising from her deck will be our signal to attack. While we come from the rear, the remaining corsair ships will charge the blockade from the front. Any questions?"

"What about Captain Redbush?" Mobus asked.

Vasheron smiled.
"Kill him carefully. Don't let anyone on either crew see you do it, it needs to appear that he died in battle."

"I will be careful...Redbush will no longer be a thorn in our side."

Vasheron nodded.
"Good."

Squeeker was holding his breath, stunned at the news that the Deev planned on murdering one of their allies and knowing that if he and his brother were discovered now they would be killed instantly to keep Vasheron's plan secret. His fur prickled in shock when his brother suddenly let out a loud snorting snore.

Vasheron became alert and looked around quickly.
"What was that!? Did you hear that noise?"

Mobus scanned the deck behind him. His eyes came to rest on the bowsprit which extended in front of the vessel. Its sail had just been unfurled.
"I believe it was that mast straining under the sail."

Vasheron fingered his sword.
"Yes... I'm just anxious for battle," he walked away from the rail, "Captain, go below decks and pass my instructions to Redbush and his crew. When you're certain they understand, join me at the helm."

"Yes, my prince," the scarred mink affirmed.

The two Deev walked forward. Squeeker finally took a deep breath. Squawker awoke and rubbed his eyes. He looked at his shaking brother.
"Are ye cold? Did I miss sumpthin' ?" he asked dully.

"A bit," the smaller weasel conceded, "but nuthin' that concerns ya right now."

In the harbor, four shiploads of pirates prepared to make a run at the blockade. Captain Redbush and his crew had relocated below decks on the Windspirit. The Crimson Rose had already raised its anchors and drifted gently toward the mouth of the bay. Redbush's ship, the Flying Fox, was being manned by the combined crews of Captains Hogbrow and Tonguescab. This was done because the fox's vessel was well armed and twice the size of either of the weasel captain's craft, which were primarily smuggling ships, small and fast, but woefully light in armament. The final ship of the brethren flotilla was Captain Greensap's fine sloop, the Ghost of the Seas, on which Captain Yellowtooth, the nutria, and his beasts supplemented the crew.

The key to the pirates plan was surprise. In a direct attack, the Brotherhood's ships would have an enormous advantage, being anchored across the narrow neck of the bay with catapults directed inward toward any advancing vessels and the Neure behind them ready to swoop in for a killing blow.

It was imperative to the corsair's plan that they be as close to the enemy as possible without arousing undo suspicion when the final attack occurred, signaled by the smoking carcass of the most outlying of the Brotherhood vessels. It was for this reason that the attack was planned for the early morning, on the turning tide. All the brethren vessels were to quietly raise anchor and keep their sails furled until the actual charge. The outgoing tide would slowly drift them in the direction of the blockade, bringing them closer without appearing to be doing so.

Onboard the Rose spirits were high, though most beasts were nervous and anxious. Willum stood at the helm with Wilbur while the Scratchback siblings checked the six deck catapults loaded with tightly bound oil-soaked bails of hay.

Salto was taking particular care with the exotic hydraulic catapult they had salvaged and installed on Xenoth. He was convinced it would have a considerably longer range than the conventional models and could be fired far more rapidly since it did not require the tedious chore of winding to re-prime the weapon.

Ursamus was in charge of the three massive over-sized crossbows mounted in front of and to either side of the bridge and used to shoot grappling hooks onto the enemy vessels, then used to pull the ships alongside for boarding.

Willum watched carefully through his spyglass as the Windspirit passed the blockade and made its way toward the Neure. He collapsed the telescope and smiled at Wilbur.
"So far, so good, little matey. Are all beasts set to make sail on my command?"

Wilbur scanned the crew, bunched to either side of each of the masts.
"Aye, aye, captain," he answered.

"Very good, Mister Wilbur, now we wait," he looked down at the young mole and smiled gently, "are ye nervous, Willy?"

"A little," Wilbur admitted, "Oi've been in battle before and Oi don't like it. It's probably worse on water."

"Not really, less confused, it is. On land ye always got to worry about yer beasts panicking and turnin' tail. That ain't the case at sea...no wheres to run to so they all fights with all their might. Stick by me, matey, I'll see ye gets through it. Any luck and we'll surprise 'em so bad they won't put up much of a fight and it'll be over quick."

"Oi hope so," Wilbur said looking up toward the dawning sky. Suddenly he broke into a broad grin and pointed up, "Look captain, we've got company!"

Willum looked up in time to see a rainbow-hued projectile heading in his direction. He raised his arm to his side and a familiar creature landed on it, making its way to his shoulder.
"Permission to come aboard, captain, captain," the parrot asked happily.

Willum grinned with joy.
"Well bless me wicked heart, if'n it ain't me favorite sea-bird. Permission granted Max, me old cove. Ya got good timing, we're about ta dance with them scarlet devils."

"I love a good dance," Max smiled. He looked at Willum and then to Wilbur, Ursamus, and the rest of the crew, "It's good to be back."

When the Windspirit was about half a league from the Neure, Vasheron assembled his Deev on the quarterdeck and instructed them briefly. Squeeker and his brother remained sheltered beneath the leaning dory on the opposite side of the deck forward. They watched as all of the Minge with the exception of Vasheron and Mobus transmuted to smoke and curled their transformed shapes up against the bulkhead between crates and within the folds of canvas sails lying on the deck. When they were done, the Deev were completely hidden.

Squeeker saw Captain Redbush briefly emerge from the crew's quarters before the mast and speak in agitated tones to Vasheron. After an animated exchange the fox returned below decks and the Minge Prince motioned to Mobus who smiled ominously. The crew of the Windspirit was called to order and instructions were issued to lower sails and prepare to moor alongside the Neure.

Squawker poked his brother in the ribs.
"Shouldn't we ought ta get out from under here and help?" the portly weasel asked.

"I don't think dat's a good idea Squawk. Long as dey don't miss us, we're better off here and I think they got other stuff, like killin' and such, on their minds."

"We're gonna get in trouble if'n dey catch us hidin', Squeek."

"Would ya rather go chargin' around killin' beasts? Or getting' kilt? Dats what's gonna happen real soon now."

Squawker began shaking.
"I don't wanna kill nobody, Squeek and I don't wanna be kilt neither. What do we do if dey find us?"

"Pretend youse fell asleep. We'll get in trouble for sure, maybe even whipped a little, but that beats getting' run through by a rusty blade, don't it?"

"Yeah, Squeek, it beats it real well."

Squeeker put his finger to his lips.
"Just be quiet bro, and try not to move."