King Sigus' guard bivouacked around the Golden Palms plantation, setting up tents at the entrance in a grove of palm trees so as not to be seen too easily by any approaching visitors. Herman and Vattus remained in the main house, questioning Squeeker and Squawker about every aspect of what had occurred in Minga.

The wizard and hedgehog both found themselves rather liking the two ferret siblings. They were open and forthcoming about their questionable past and showed a genuine desire to live calm law abiding lives.

When asked about the sea battle by Herman. The hedgehog and Vattus couldn't help laughing as the pair moved furniture out of the way in the waiting room to produce an odd but effective recreation of the conflict. Large white oval dining plates served as representations of the pirate fleet and black soup bowls played the part of the Brotherhood blockade. Even the main players were represented, with the Deev portrayed by black olives, except for Vasheron who was played by a small black turnip. Willum was a tangerine, which Vattus found appropriate and amusing. The remaining pirate captains were radishes, except for the murdered fox, Redbush, who was recreated as a tomato with a bird feather stuck inside it. A few crew members who had impressed the Fishpaws were also to be seen, including a large boll of cotton for Ursamus, a prune for Wilbur and a raisin pinned to the tangerine representing Max.

Squeeker played the pirate side in the re-enactment while Squawker moved the Brotherhood ships. The battle was played out with surprising accuracy, including details like the murder of Redbush, which the brothers only suspected and did not see and the sinking of the Ghost of the Seas. The re-enactment was concluded with a small gravy boat leaving the largest soup-bowl. It contained several almonds and two shelled hazelnuts, which Squawker proudly pointed out represented he and his brother on their voyage to Minga. When the show was complete, Vattus applauded, as did Herman, who was popping the olives into his mouth.

Vattus shook his head smiling.
"Just like a master assassin, still bent on eliminating the Deev." He chuckled.

Herman smiled guiltily as he ate the last of the olives.
"It ain't my fault, these Deev are right tasty."

The four Deev, with Colonel Taois in the lead, stopped about half a mile short of the Golden Palms. Taois knelt on the dirt road and looked about. He ran his paw along a wheel mark in the dirt and pointed out the remains of several rows of footprints. He addressed his minks.
"It appears we may have guests at the plantation, two carriages and about a dozen soldiers in formation. Crefor lied to us...we'll deal with him later. We'll move off the road and approach from the side. When we're within a couple of hundred yards we'll transmute to smoke and stay in the undergrowth.

"Captain Peras," a tall lean mink snapped to attention, "I want you to scout the main building and grounds, be especially stealthy...they know who we are and what we can do, so they'll be watchful of any fog or smoke moving on its own power. Report back to me at the old well near the stone wall. I want to know who's here, how many, and where... understood?"

"Yes sir," Peras responded as he split from the group and began trotting away from the main road, but still in the direction of the plantation.

Back at the main quarters, several of Sigus' guard had just finished bringing a large crate into the kitchen. Squeeker was curious as to its contents and peeked inside. The box contained six large, empty stoppered glass globes as well as the hedgehog's sucking machine which had been so successful against the Deev in Seth-e-Raman. Herman saw the curiosity in the ferret's eyes and explained.
"Those there is fer holdin' the Deev if'n we kin catch them while they're smoke. That there machine is ta suck 'em up if'n they come at us as smoke. We got other ways too."

"Like what??" Squawker asked.

Herman laughed.
"It ain't just me what's gonna do it mister Fishpaw, that's why we got us a wizard along."

"If you puts them inta de balls, what then?" Squawker continued.

"We ain't completely sure. We got a few more of them smoky Minge sealed up in cement back at Seth-e that need dealin' with too. Vattus is hopin' he kin find a potion what'll take away their power ta go poof. If he kin do that, then they'll just be regular evil beasts instead of magical evil beasts and we kin just toss 'em into a prison."

"They sure belong there," Squeeker said with conviction, "I think those Deev get pleasure from killin' and that just ain't right."

"No...it isn't right at all", Vattus said entering the kitchen, "but we have to catch them first and that won't be easy. If they attack us, remember to back up to a wall so they can't sneak and attack from behind."

He looked around the kitchen, "This room should serve nicely, there's only one entrance to guard. Stay together and make sure you are armed at all times. If you see anything suspicious, anything at all, sound the alert and call me. A false alarm is better than being caught off guard. Don't forget that these beasts are trained killers. During their lives they have ended the existence of more beasts and men than most armies."

Squawker gulped nervously.
"I wish you hadn'ta said that last part 'cause as scared as I was, I'm a hundred times more scared now."

Herman slapped the large ferret firmly on the back, sending him stumbling forward.
"That's a good thing mister Fishpaw, it means you ain't gonna let yer guard done."

"That's fer sure," Squeeker agreed, "is it all right if me and Squawk take a little walk before it gets dark. I need to stretch me paws and we been holed up in this house since you fellas got here."

Vattus nodded.
"As long as you two stick together and get back before the sun sets, I don't see any harm in it. Be careful though."

"Ya don't have to worry about that mister Vattus, we ain't the bravest of beasts. If'n we even hear a twig snap we'll be back afore ya kin say 'what was that?' "

The Deev captain, Peras, arrived at the old well shortly before dusk to find Taois waiting. Colonel Taois was impatient, he walked up to his subordinate and ordered him to give his report. Peras complied.

"There are a dozen human soldiers camped in groups of four at the front and to either side of the main house. I saw three beasts and an old human inside. They were unpacking a crate of glass globes and some type of apparatus. Its purpose was unclear to me."

Taois became excited.
"What manner of beasts were they?" he asked.

"Two were ferrets, scraggly and dressed in rags, they looked like sea-beasts. The third was a very large hedgehog wearing a pale cloak. He carried a sword at his side."

Taois broke into an unnatural and disturbing smile.
"The assassin master is here...I could not have hoped for better news. Now I can eliminate the bane of my existence and be at peace. I will never know greater satisfaction than when I rip his heart out," he went silent for a moment, deep in thought.

He beckoned his Deev around him and pointed to the two Minge beside Peras, "You two will deal with those outside the main building...attack one group then break off and attack the next, and so on...keep them guessing, I do not want the beasts inside to have a clear source of the attack, I want them to remain inside with no single battle to go to. Peras and I will deal with the hedgehog and his friends," he held up his paw, "correction...I...and I alone will deal with the so-called 'Master of Assassins'...Peras may amuse himself with the ferrets and the old man. When I have killed the hedgehog, we will join you outside to eliminate the remainder of the humans, is everyone clear on their tasks?"

The minks nodded and Taois continued, "Very well, we will wait till sunset," he looked up at the sky, "forty minutes...give or take...then the party will begin!"

At the same time that Taois was giving his orders, Squeeker and Squawker were taking their walk along the old wall not far from where the Deev were hidden. Squeeker's paw shot over his brother's mouth as soon as he heard the faint sound of voices. Squawker's eyes went wide and both slid to the ground, pressed against the wall. Squeeker whispered urgently in his brother's ear.
"Stay here and don't move or make a sound. I'm gonna crawl up a little ta see if'n I can figure out if it's them devils come ta get everyone."

A look of confused fear came over Squawker.
"If it's dem, maybe we kin just get outta here. They ain't got no reason ta be mad with us. It was scary enough workin' for 'em, but fightin' 'em seems really stupid...they'll kill us fer sure."

The smaller ferret gently placed his paw on his brother's shoulder.
"Listen Squawk, you heard what mister Vattus said they done and why they been trapped on that island. They're evil, 'specially the prince and this Taois character. We can't pretend we ain't in the middle of this. If we run off, we're sidin' with the Deev pure and simple. If'n we really wants to become good beasts like we says, we can't look the other way no more...pretendin' we don't see or that it don't concern us."

Squeeker gently raised his brother's head by lifting his chin and looked him square in the eye, "I'm done pretendin' Squawk, I truly wants to be a decent beast...I wants to be able to look at my reflection and say 'Ya did all you could and yer doin' what's right...ya ain't a coward no more', that's what I want," he sighed, "and I guess if I get myself kilt because of it, well...that's all right."

Tears began to run down Squawker's homely face.
"I'll be brave Squeek...I wants to be decent...I wants to do what's right...I just ain't used to it is all. I'll do what you tells me to, honest I will. I ain't brave like you, so I don't know what the brave thing is and you gotta tell me."

Squeeker smiled.
"We'll get through this, I promise. Now just stay here and be quiet and I'll be right back."

"Okay, just be careful...I'll be right here when ya gets back."

Squeeker crawled off in the direction of the voices. He wasn't gone long. He crawled back a few minutes later and squeezed his brother's arm.
"It's them, we need ta get back to the house ta warn mister Vattus."

"Are they plannin' on hurtin' him?"

Squeeker looked grim as he led his brother back to the plantation.
"They're plannin' on killin' us all."

After Squeeker had frantically conveyed his intelligence to Vattus, the wizard quickly issued instructions. He told Herman to finish setting up his sucking machine with the Fishpaws' help while he went outside to assemble the troops and move them to the entrance. He sent two members of the guard back into the kitchen to protect his friends.

The hedgehog worked quickly and with purpose, explaining the function of his machine as he finished attaching the main hose to the glass housing. He had made two significant changes to the apparatus since last using it at his studio.

The first was to change the pumping mechanism from a foot-operated bellows to a teeter-totter construction manned by two beasts, in this case, Squeeker and Squawker, insuring a constant and steady vacuum.

The second innovation was a trigger which allowed the receiving globe to be pumped to a full vacuum and then closed. When the trigger was pulled, the globe was opened to the hose and an instantaneous suction was produced. This allowed the device to be ready without constant pumping.

Herman explained the device patiently to the ferrets and what to do should a Deev be captured within it. The brothers were skeptical, but diligently listened and went through the procedure several times. Squawker kept looking nervously through the window, knowing that when darkness fell, the attack would commence.

Taois led his Deev toward the main plantation house as the first of a million stars became prominent in the sky amid the velvety darkness of an endless universe. He noticed that all of Sigus' guards were now located near the entrance of the building. Taois instructed two of his Minge to begin picking them off at their edges to draw them away from the building so that he and Peras could gain access and eliminate the accursed hedgehog.

The Deev transmuted and soon four clouds of smoke traveled across the sandy soil between the towering palms toward the inevitable battle. As they reached the perimeter of the main building, two of the clouds separated and swung around behind the contingent of guards led by Vattus, who now stood watch protecting the access to the building.

Vattus was scanning the distance when the first scream echoed from behind him. He turned in time to see one of the soldiers collapsing from a sword strike and a brown cloud receding into the darkness. Two more of the guards fell in rapid succession and Vattus quickly re-organized his troops into a semi-circle with their backs to the building's wall between two sets of torches.

A Deev materialized at the left edge of the human crescent, but this time Vattus was ready. As the Minge struck, three guards rushed him and he defensively transmuted to smoke. Vattus quickly conjured a shield around the smoky entity, trapping him. The wizard uncorked one of Herman's globes and forced the Deev-smoke into it, re-sealing and putting it aside. He ordered the wounded guards moved to the rear and continued watching for the other attacker.

As the conflict outside the plantation home continued, two other puffs of brown smoke moved silently below the space of the front door and made their way to the kitchen, where Herman, the Fishpaws, and two of Sigus' men waited anxiously for news of the battle.

The Fishpaw brothers had just finished charging up the sucking machine when the first of the two Deev-clouds oozed under the kitchen door. Herman saw it immediately and cautioned the others, who stepped back at his warning. The hose to his machine was too short to reach the door, so the hedgehog waited for the cloud to come within range even as the second puff of Deev-smoke slid into the room.

The first patch of vapor slid quickly along the floor toward the two ferrets, who instinctively backed up toward the wall . With a quickness belying his bulk, Herman sprang into action. He came up behind the leading transmuted Deev and thrust the hose directly into it, immediately squeezing the trigger mechanism. As the seal to the glass receiving bowl opened, an instantaneous and powerful suction was produced and the cloud was sucked into the globe. Squeeker quickly ran to the spare globes and retrieved a cork, which he thrust into the receiving bowl, trapping the Deev within it.

The second cloud stopped. In a swirl of smoke, rising in a column, the vapor transmuted once more. Colonel Taois stood in the kitchen, sword drawn and eyes blazing with fury. He screamed at Herman.
"Your toys won't save you! I will kill you slowly and watch the life leave your eyes!"

The guards rushed toward the colonel, who laughed dismissively. They attacked from opposite sides. It was of little concern to the Deev, who casually parried all the strikes. The mink moved with a calm fluid motion around the kitchen, laughing and talking as he warded off every blow directed at him without ever taking an offensive tact.

"Are these the best you have, master assassin? I was Vasheron's fencing master, you know...," he flicked his wrist and disarmed the first of his attackers, stepping back to allow the man to retrieve his blade, he continued speaking, "this is becoming rather boring...I believe I will end this..."

For the first time, Taois went on the attack, he parried a blow and executed a perfect riposte, impaling the poor soldier completely through the chest. Now the colonel turned his attention to the remaining guard, first taking the time to continue his monologue before launching his assault.
"I must admit I do enjoy killing humans," he turned his head toward the hedgehog, "but they are just an appetizer...you are the main course." His eyes became stern, "enough of this comedy!"

He feigned a high thrust and when the soldier raised his blade for the parry, he struck low and slew the guard with a thrust below the ribcage and through his heart. Taois slide his sword out of the body and turned to face Herman who had by this time unsheathed his glass sword.

Taois laughed, "Quite an interesting weapon, I shall take it as a trophy...let's see if you have any skill."

He came at the hedgehog swinging his blade in figure eights. Herman managed a few parries, but found himself bleeding from several strokes which had evaded his defenses. A second assault duplicated the result. Blood was running down his face and body, but Herman realized that Taois was only toying with him. He knew Taois could kill him at will and would do so very soon.

As he backed off from the next attack, Herman tripped over the suction hose and fell backwards, ending up sprawled on the floor. Taois was on him immediately, trapping his sword under a foot-paw and pressing his own blade on Herman's neck hard enough to cause a trickle of blood.

"Now I will end you!" Taois said cruelly, raising his sword for the killing blow. Herman closed his eyes.

"Hey, leave that beast alone you walkin' fart!" a voice called from the corner of the room. Taois looked up in time to see a large glass globe hurtling toward his head, but not soon enough to avoid it. It struck with considerable force and shattered into a thousand pieces.

Taois tottered, trying to maintain his balance. Herman opened his eyes at the shower of glass. In desperation, he lifted his sword arm, now free of Taois' foot, just as the colonel fell forward. The Deev landed harshly on top of the hedgehog, his face inches from Herman and his eyes wide in disbelief.
"Not...possible.." he gasped.

It was only then that Herman realized that the colonel had fallen on the glass blade and that it had pierced the Minge's body. He looked at the dimming eyes of his adversary as they closed forever and let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly he felt the body of the Deev being rolled off him and saw the homely faces of Squawker and Squeeker.

Squawker wore guilty smile as he spoke.
"I'm right sorry I done busted yer pretty glass ball, but it was all that I could find."

Herman was silent for a brief while, then stood and gave the ferret a firm hug.
"I forgive ya with all me heart mister Fishpaw, I think it was put to good use."

The brothers helped the hedgehog up. Squeeker pointed to all the cuts on Herman's head and body.
"You is pretty cut up mister Corkspike, are ye all right?"

"A liddle bloodied fer sure," Herman smiled, "but still breathin'," he pointed down at the body of Taois, "which is more that I kin say fer that devil."

As he finished speaking, Vattus walked in carrying two orbs filled with Deev-smoke. He looked at the carnage in the kitchen and shook his head sadly.
"We lost five outside, but the Deev are secure. I was worried about you, Herman, but I see that you were once again underestimated...though you do appear as though you've fallen down a mountain."

"It t'weren't me so much as these two surprisin' beasts. They saved me life and I'm beholdin' to them."

Vattus patted the two ferrets on the back.
"Well done Fishpaws! Help me secure these two and we'll transport them all back to Seth-e."

Squeeker looked concerned.
"Are we goin' with ya? We'd kinda like ta stay here where we belong. Seth-e is pretty big and not kind ta beasts like us."

Vattus though for a moment.
"I don't know how things are going on Xenoth or what the status is of the remaining Deev. It would be useful to have a pair of friendly eyes on the lookout here should Vasheron return. How would you two feel about staying at the plantation as our spies?"

Squawker clapped like a little boy getting a brand new bike.
"That'd be right wunnerful, mister Vattus. We really likes it here," he dropped his voice to a whisper, "did ya know this here place has real beds, wit mattresses and pillers and such?"

Vattus smiled.
"Then that's what we'll do. I keep a few of King Sigus' guards here and should the Deev return, you can send word to Seth-e-Raman by them. Now let's get these prisoners safely stowed and everyone's wounds tended to...then, I think a very large meal and a very long sleep are in order."

Herman laughed amidst a small series of groans triggered by his injuries.
"That's the best plan I heard in weeks!"