“Wha' be this?” Damon was awakened by the harsh voice of his guard.
Startled, he jumped to his feet to see the rat peering threw the dungeon bars, an angry look on his face. That was no surprised; Aviso was always angry.
Beside Damon, Kelley stood up, blinking her eyes sleepily. “Damon, why--” With a gasp, she staggered backwards, leaning agents the wall.
“Where’d she come from?” Aviso demanded.
“You should know that. It was your guard watching the door.” Damon answered.
Aviso’s cold eyes glittered dangerously as he left, slamming the door behind him. A moment later a scream split the air, causing Damon to cringe.
He wiped his head around. “Give me the daggers.” He said quickly, knowing the rat would return. Kelley dashed to where she had buried the sack and stared digging, sending dirt flying in every direction.
The door opened again and Aviso entered, this time with three rats and a fox behind him.
“Hurry!” Damon whispered to Kelley, his heart pounding as he noticed the blood glistening on Aviso’s saber.
The fox opened the iron-bared door, stepping toward the otter maiden as she tried to untie the sack. “Throw it here!” Damon said.
She tossed the bag. Seeing this, the fox turned, slowing walking in his direction.
Damon tried to grab it, but it was just out of reach.
The manacles dug into his wrist, causing blood to stream down his arms.
“Kelley, help.” he gasped.
He looked up at an “oof” from the fox, who staggered back a few feet.
Kelley picked up the sack and held out one of the daggers, a fierce light shinning in her eyes. “Thanks.” Damon said, taking the dagger and pointing it at the fox, who lingered uncertainly by the door.
“Stay back.” Damon warned.
But Aviso pushed him forward, saying “Hurry 'n get th' lass.”
The fox snarled in a low, heavily accented voice, “No push Swuro.”
Damon tightened his grip on the dagger as the fox came toward him. “Stop.” he warned before the blade whizzed by the fox’s head, sticking into the wall behind him.
The fox retreated back to the door. “Me not be killed by otter. Me done with this.” he said, shaking his head.
Damon watched as Aviso brought the flat of his saber down on the fox’s head with a smack. Swuro crumpled to the ground.
Sniggering, the rats left, locking the doors behind them.
After a moment of stunned silent Kelley rushed over to the unconscious fox.
Damon waited as she put her head to his chest. “He’s alive.” she said. “But his head is bleeding badly.”
“Do what you can for him.” Damon decided. “He might be of use to us later.”
It was midday when the fox awoke.
After sitting up, he looked intently at Damon. “You Black Iron?” he asked.
“Yes.” the otter answered, surprised that the fox knew his name.
“Friends of ye outside.” Swuro said.
“Who?” Damon asked curiosity.
“Shrew brothers, squirrel, mouse, all warriors.” Swuro answered.
“The Wave Warriors are here?” Damon asked, rising to his feet “They were supposed to arrive after to take down the vermin after I have killed Ragen, not before”.
The fox nodded. “Slaves.”
Damon’s hope faded instantly and he sat back down.
“There are more slaves then?” Kelley asked.
Swuro nodded again.
“They can‘t be. No one can capture them.” Damon said quietly.
The fax shrugged his shoulders.
“How many guards are on the island?” Kelley asked.
“Thirty, more on ships.” the fox answered.
Kelley asked, “Who’s side are you on anyway, Swuro?”
“Me fight agents Aviso. Me kill rats.” the fox growled.
Kelley turned to Damon. “He fights with us.” she said triumphantly.
“Three vs. Thirty.” Damon said. “This will go down in history.”
“Only if someone alive tell it.” Swuro added grimly.
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