Otto Enscrown and his family lived in a dome-shaped hut made of palm fronds and twigs at the center of a salt marsh located next to the beach at the northwest corner of Xenoth. It was a surprisingly spacious dwelling. Ophelia tended to her brother's wounds while preparing a delicious smelling seafood stew.

The crew of the Rose took off their various pieces of armor and settled in. It was decided that Winky and Groggs should go back to their ship and return with the Scratchbacks. After ensuring the two stoats that the stew would be awaiting them upon their return, they left.

Egbert, Wilbur, and Zian settled on a thick mat made of coconut fibers. Odette, who was obviously enamored of Zian, sat on his lap while Egbert queried Otto about the creatures they had just battled.

"They call themselves The Knights of the Scarlet Brotherhood," the wounded otter began, "it is only over the past year that they have begun kidnapping our neighbors."

"What do they do with their prisoners?" Zian asked.

"We don't know," Ophelia answered, "but they are never seen again."

"How many of dem are there? The Knights, Oi mean." Wilbur wanted to know.

"A few hundred, I think, but I'm not sure."

"They are the rulers of this land?" Wilbur continued.

Otto rubbed his bandage and addressed Wilbur.
"I suppose they are, now that the Ghost Knights have left."

Egbert sat up excitedly.
"Left? Someone left Xenoth? How?"

"I don't know," the otter answered, "but I saw it myself. The Ghosts drank a potion that Azmeritus, he is the leader of the Scarlet Knights, gave them. Then they got in a boat and left."

Egbert turned to his companions.
"Do you hear that boys, there's a way off of this place."

Ophelia interrupted.
"You can't go to their castle, they are not good creatures, they will not help you and you will never be seen again."

"Oi appreciate your concern, but we must troi. Our families and friends are all beyond these shores."

"What is it like outside the wall?" Otto asked.

"Depends where you go, I suppose," Zian answered, "how long have you been in Xenoth?"

Otto smiled.
"We have always been here, our whole lives. We have spoken to many castaways over the years and they always ask the same questions. It is really very nice here, except for the knights. There is plenty of food, fish come in through the wall and then can't leave, so the waters are rich."

Zian interjected.
"About the wall, have you ever tried getting through?"

"From time to time, but it remains solid."

"Does it hurt, hitting the wall, I mean."

Otto chuckled.
"No, it feels like flesh, soft, but dense. You can check it yourself if you like, there is a ridge in the sea near here where you can walk all the way to the wall."

"Maybe later," Zian answered, "right now I think I'll wait for your sister's stew, it smells wonderful."

Little Odette tapped Zian on the shoulder.
"You gotta save some for your friends," she said in a small stern voice, "silly friends ask and you say you would."

Zian laughed.
"All right," he said with mock sadness, "I will save some for my silly friends, but it won't be easy."

Azmeritus was not an excitable creature. He lacked passion for most things. The focus of all his energy was the service he paid to his god and the unquestioned faith he had in the correctness and necessity of his actions. In his eyes, the world was a foul place, polluted by false faith and heretical creatures and it was his charge to prepare it for his lord's coming. He had no friends and no true confidants, simply acolytes and followers who owed him their allegiance.

The mongoose priest was furious. His chest heaved and spittle ran down his fangs as he ranted. The fact that he rarely showed his temper made his outburst all the more singular to his followers. He stood in the central chamber of the cavern behind the falls. Bishop Skaar and Prester Jauba were the objects of his tantrum.

"Tonight is the full moon!" he  screamed in a scratchy voice, "My instructions were clear, identical, in fact to the instructions I have given you each month for the past year! Fifteen! We need fifteen supplicants for the full moon as we have each previous month and what do you bring me? Thirteen! Thirteen, not fifteen. Do you think this was a random number? Do you think I pulled it out of thin air? Thirteen will not do. Our lord does not ask much of us, and promises us the world in exchange and this is how you honor him?"

Skaar and Jauba hung their heads in shame and remained silent. Jauba stepped forward and spread his arms in supplication. He addressed Azmeritus nervously.

"We did not expect armed resistance, your Excellency. I lost two brothers and two others were badly wounded. By the time we re-organized, time was running out, the other natives became aware of our presence and fled or hid."

"I don't care about your excuses!" the high priest spat out, "What will you do to solve this crisis?"

Bishop Skaar stepped forward between Jauba and the mongoose.
"Your eminence, the two wounded Gleaners have volunteered to take the place of the missing supplicants to serve our lord."

Azmeritus looked up and seemed to calm. He stood silent a while to regain his composure. He took a deep breath. When he spoke again, he was once more cool and emotionless. He turned to Prester Jauba.

"At least some of my children understand the importance of what we do. Good, prepare them with the other supplicants and let them know that their sacrifice serves a greater good and that they will be blessed."

"I will do so immediately." Jauba left.

Azmeritus turned to Skaar and spoke calmly.
"When tonight's ceremony is complete we will deal with this so-called resistance. What do we know of these armed heretics? Is it an organized resistance?"

"I don't believe so, your eminence. From what Jauba told me, his Gleaners stumbled on to them by accident. I suspect that they are a recently trapped crew of some ship. When this evening's ceremony is complete, we will organize a small troop to root them out."

"Very well, Skaar," the mongoose agreed, "we cannot allow any resistance to our cause, especially not now, with the blessed day so close. We will make an example out of them so no one will be tempted to resist us or interfere in the future."

Skaar smiled and asked with excitement.
"How soon, your eminence, how soon will our lord return to us?"

For the first time in Skaar's memory, Azmeritus smiled broadly as he answered.
"My dear bishop," He said excitedly, "the time approaches quickly. When the Deev return with their treasures, our lord will return with his. Now go and prepare. We will meet here at sunset for the rising of the moon."

When the sun began its daily descent, the only sound within the cavern was the waterfall cascading down behind the assembled Brothers. Twenty Presters, Bishops, and Abbots, stood silently in a wide arc around the opening to the sacred alcove where the potion for the Deev had been retrieved.

Outside, the gloaming, which had bathed the sky in violets and golden-reds, had given way to the dark ruby glow of dusk. In the alcove, reclined on scarlet mats, the thirteen drugged supplicants lay sleeping. Seated on two stools, the two wounded Gleaners sat nervously, their heads lowered in prayer, glancing occasionally at the sleeping prisoners lying at their feet. When the sun was finally fully set, the Scarlet clergy began to chant quietly, repeating the same five verses again and again, slowly increasing in volume until the sound of the waterfall was drowned out completely.

Azmeritus entered from behind the waterfall. He was dressed in a deep ruby-red, hooded robe with a golden sash. His cowl partially covered his face, so that only his colorless snout was seen. The front of his robe was embroidered in silver and gold thread in the representation of a giant eye. The mongoose stepped through the rank of clergy, who were now silent with heads bowed.     

Azmeritus positioned himself halfway between his followers and the alcove which contained the supplicants. He glanced upward towards the roof of the cavern. A circular hole was carved into the ceiling and extended upward through the surface, revealing a small portion of the nighttime sky. At the edge of the hole, the full moon revealed itself, moving slowly toward the center of the opening.

After muttering an incantation in the direction of the supplicants, the albino cleric turned towards his followers and motioned with his paws. The twenty brothers turned away from the alcove and faced in the direction of the waterfall. On a command from Azmeritus, they once more began to chant loudly. Every few minutes, the mongoose would look upward to see the moon's progress toward the center of the hole.  

When the full moon was dead center, the ground began to tremble slightly. The whimpers of the two Gleaner supplicants rose in volume, punctuated by gasps and small shrieks. The chanting continued. Suddenly there was a loud crack, followed by a gust of rancid warm air. Then there was silence, except for the chant.

Azmeritus called out and the chanting ceased. He gave another command and the entire group turned around to once more face the alcove. It was empty. There were no supplicants, mats, or stools, no evidence that there had been anything in it at all. Azmeritus smiled, despite the incompetence of his Gleaners, the ceremony had gone perfectly. When the Deev returned, the new world order would begin.