The Weekly Muse #38
Dramatic Revelations, Questionable Command Decisions, and a Falcon!
Last week in the read-through of my Very First Novel, our heroes finally came face to face with the Lost Prince, after which Sean defeated Rakkla, leader of the Tara Raiders, in a climactic duel scene! We resume our story in progress!
Sean stood over the fallen fox, his chest heaving with exhaustion. The cheers of the companions rent the air like thunder. The Raccoon Brethren chattered wildly, Dwayne let out a loud "Yeehaa!", and Lukewil's mice performed an elaborate salute while the mouse drummer beat out a jubilant roll.
This ecstatic response was completely different from the Tara Raiders'. They were stunned, absolutely stunned. There was no other word for it. They could not believe that Rakkla, the Captain of the Tara Raiders, the most feared fighter in Sirilan, had been slain. And slain by a boy, no less! If one boy could slay the fearsome Rakkla with apparent ease, how easily could he kill them? The hearts of the Tara Raiders turned to water as a terrible fear fell upon them. They became even more afraid when Shenan cut short his companions' cheers by waving his scimitar aloft and calling aloud, "Now, that the Fox Captain is slain, let us rid the land of his minions once and for all!"
As the companions surged forward, weapons drawn, the Tara Raiders screamed and wailed in panic. They turned and fled into the woods, as fast as they could pelt, for about five paces. Suddenly, mobs of Raccoon Brethren leaped out from the trees. Rokkachan had arrived with his reinforcements!
The Tara Raiders' terrified flight screeched to a sudden halt. They looked about frantically. Shenan and the companions stormed towards the Tara Raiders from behind, and their way of escape into the Forest was blocked by Rokkachan's war party. They were trapped, as surely as they had trapped the companions before.
As the Tara Raiders stood, paralyzed with fear and indecision, the Prince acted swiftly. Drawing his sword, he stepped to the lead of the charging companions and called out sternly, "Hold! No Tara Raider will be harmed, if they lay down their arms now and agree to serve Lord Taradash no longer. You may all leave in peace if you surrender now and lay down your arms!"
What followed next astonished everyone. Immediately, every Tara Raider and Feline Legionnaire threw their weapons to the ground and raised their hands and paws in the air. Conrad noticed that many of the soldiers had smiles on their faces, especially the Feline Legionnaires. After years of serving evil tyrants and power-mad maniacs like Cavanessa Montashleigh, the Feline Legionnaires were relieved to finally be free.
Zakkle looked slightly disappointed. "Why not fight them? They are enemies! They serve Taradash, fight us, invade our forest, slay our warriors! Why not fight them?"
"Because we are not killers!" the Prince stated firmly. "We have no need to fight them now. They have peacefully surrendered, and if they all promise to serve Lord Taradash no more, then they will be allowed to leave in peace, or even join us in our battle against Taradash. But the road to peace will not come if we kill without a cause, if we do not show that we are different than they. Taradash rules by fear. I must rule by love."
Zakkle nodded solemnly. "Truly, you very wise. You are true king of Sirilan. My Brethren will not harm prisoners."
Just then, the tabby centurion came forward. He knelt before the Prince. "Sire, I beg you, forgive my rebellion against the crown. I served the Catqueen because I believed you were dead and all hope for Sirilan was gone. Now, I promise you, on my life, that I will not serve under the Catqueen again. I am yours to command, my king." The other Feline Legionnaires followed him as one, each one vowing to serve Patrick and begging his forgiveness for their prior deeds while under Taradash. Patrick forgave them one and all.
Some of the Tara Raiders decided to join the Prince, but most decided to simply return to the homes and live in peace. Sean pointed out to them that Taradash still ruled Sirilan and until he was defeated, no one could truly live in peace. But the Tara Raiders insisted, and the Prince let them go. Zakkle reluctantly agreed to conduct them safely to the Forest's edge. He assigned one of his Raccoon Chieftains, a thin, wiry raccoon named Chikka, to guide them.
After Chikka had gone, Lukewil approached the tabby centurion. He held out his paw in friendship and spoke with traces of warmth in his usually flat and unemotional voice. "I am called Lukewil Sabrepaw. My people had a long alliance with the cats of Sirilan in the days before Taradash. I would be pleased to renew that ancient friendship. "
The tabby centurion smiled and clasped Lukewil's paw. "I am honored. I am called Covalek, and I only wish that my paws were not stained with the long years of service under Taradash."
"It is no matter," Lukewil said. "I care not what you have done before, if my Prince can forgive you, so can I. I know my father will say the same as I. When Taradash is defeated and peace is restored, you must come to my village and meet my father, Rahdii Swordtail. He will be very pleased to know that some of Cavanessa's warriors have left her service and joined the prince."
"I will gladly do so," Covalek assured Lukewil. "Where is your village? I have traveled widely in Sirilan, but I confess, I have never heard the name of Rahdii Swordtail in all my travels."
When Lukewil told the centurion where his village was, the tabby's face turned white. Suddenly he remembered that he had heard Rahdii's name before. Rakkla had mentioned the Swordtail, just before he led the attack on Delna. The tabby wrung his paws and hung his head in anguish. He didn't know what to say to Lukewil.
The Mousewarrior noticed the tabby's distress and inquired as to the cause of it. Covalek spoke in just above a whisper. "Alas, I have heard your father's name before. Rakkla spoke of him."
Lukewil didn't understand. "Rakkla? What does the Fox Captain of the Tara Raiders have to do with my father?"
"Not just your father, he spoke of your village as well. Is it the one called Delna, a few leagues up the Sapphire?"
Lukewil still did not grasp what Covalek was saying. "Why would Rakkla be speaking of my village? What has Delna to do with him? The village is small, and its inhabitants are poor. Surely we are of no concern to Taradash."
The tabby still spoke quietly. His voice was filled with sorrow. "The reason Rakkla was speaking of your village was because it was attacked. We attacked it. Rakkla ordered its complete destruction because....because..."
Lukewil felt an icy chill of fear. "Why, centurion? Why did he attack my village?"
The tabby cried out in anguish, "Because you helped the questors!"
I.ukewil was stunned. lie took a step backwards as the full horror of Covalek's news sank in. The tabby continued softly, "One of Rakkla's spies was in the village when the Clearstream sailed into the harbor. The spy saw everything and reported it to Rakkla. He became enraged. Rakkla ordered us to attack the village with everything we had. I tried to stop him. But he threatened to tell the Catqueen. i had to carry out his commands."
Lukewil interrupted. "My father was in Delna when you attacked. What happened to him? Where is Rahdii Swordtail?"
The tabby hung his head. "Lukewil...I...I.."
Lukewil pressed further, filled with a terrible dread. "Tell me, Covalek. Where is my.father?"
Covalek sighed heavily. His face was filled with pain and suffering as he answered Lukewil's question. "I am sorry, Lukewil. Rahdii...is dead."
A gasp ran through the gathered companions. Lucy's eyes filled with tears, and even Dwayne sniffed and wiped a rough paw across his face. The Raccoon Brethren began a mournful dirge as many of the Feline Legionnaires looked down and scuffled their paws awkwardly in the dirt.
Lukewil closed his eyes and clenched his fists, struggling to keep from crying. When the Mousewarrior finally opened his eyes, they were filled with cold lights of anger and vengeance. He drew his shortsword and aimed the keen point directly at the tabby. When he spoke, his voice was hard as flint. "Tell me why I should not avenge my father and slay you here and now."
Covalek fell to his knees. "Lukewil, I beg you, spare my life! I know I am not worthy, but I promise you, even while my soldiers charged, I did everything I could to give the villagers warning. I allowed as many as I could to escape, but I could not save your father. I tried, but Rakkla intervened. He ordered a full score of soldiers to bring him down. The Swordtail fought bravely, and slew most of the soldiers, but he finally fell under their attack. I'm sorry, Lukewil. I know that doesn't make up for his loss, but its all I can say. I am truly sorry."
The companions waited to see what Lukewil would do. The Mousewarrior stood over Covalek, his shortsword drawn, ready to strike. But he hesitated. Sean saw a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. Finally, Lukewil sighed heavily. The shortsword clattered to the ground. "My father, Rahdii, would have you forgiven. I can do no less. Covalek, you may rest assured, I will not take my vengeance upon you for my father's death. I... forgive you."
Lukewil held out his paw to the kneeling centurion. Covalek rose and clasped the Mousewarrior's paw, in friendship. There was an audible sigh of relief from the companions.
Conrad turned to the Prince. "So, what do we do now?"
Patrick had already given much thought to this question. He knew exactly what to do. "Zakkle, summon Rathwing Feathertalon here, immediately!" Zakkle saluted, than swung off into the trees.
As the High Chieftain departed, Lucy asked the question everyone was thinking. "Who is Rathwing Feathertalon, your Highness?"
"You will soon see,,” replied the Prince. and that was all he would say. Lucy sighed and gave up questioning the Prince, knowing that soon. they would learn who Rathwing Feathertalon was.
About an hour later, as the sun was sinking slowly towards the horizon, the companions were preparing to make camp by the lakeshore, for the Prince was reluctant to leave all at once his home of many years, despite his previous words. It was then that Zakkle returned. With him was a small falcon, with rusty-brown plumage and fierce hooked beak. Despite his size, the falcon was obviously a warrior, from the defiant flash in its eye to the razor-sharp intensity of its claws. Zakkle introduced the falcon to the other companions, "Friends, this Rathwing Feathertalon, Skyking!"
Rathwing spoke in a harsh, rasping voice. "Creeh! I am king over Sirian skies! I command the hosts of the air! All birds bow to me, even eagles! I rule all! Only one I bow to is King of Sirilan! Are you king?"
The Prince nodded. "I assure you, noble Rathwing, I am the true King of Sirilan! If you doubt me, you can speak to the High Chieftain or any one of my friends."
Rathwing pondered this statement. His keen eye swept the assembled companions, until it fell upon the small number of Feline Legionnaires and former Tara Raiders who stood with the others. "Karaah! Why are vermin here? Is this a trap?"
"No, this is not a trap," the Prince explained. "These soldiers have chosen to leave Lord Taradash's command. They choose to stand with us and fight against Taradash's horde."
The Skyking considered for a moment, then he nodded. "Carreh! I will stand with you as well. What would you have me do?"
The Prince smiled. "My desire is that you call all the dwellers of the sky together and send them to the four corners of Sirilan. Seek out all those who remain loyal to me and my father and summon them to me! It is time to unite together and challenge Lord Taradash's rule once and for all! So go, Rathwing Feathertalon, and bring all the hosts of Sirilan to my aid!"
"Chirrrrrkaraaaaaaaah!" With a loud cry, the Skyking launched himself into the air and swept off, towards the North. The companions watched in awe as the powerful falcon rose higher and higher, until he was lost to sight amidst the towering trees of the wood.
The Prince smiled, satisfied. "Soon, the tyrant who stole my father's crown will be defeated and all the wrongs of his reign made right."
Conrad felt a surge of excitement. Soon, their quest would be finally fulfilled. Although he felt a twinge of nervousness, for he could see there was an epic battle shaping up between the Prince and Lord Taradash and he wasn't too keen on fighting in a ferocious battle where he or his friends might get killed, this was overridden by his excitement. At last, after their days and days of questing and hardship, things were finally coming to a head. Soon, the question of who would truly rule Sirilan, whether it was the son of Lawrence and Alicia or the tyrant usurper of the crown, would be decided once and for all!
2024’s me’s thoughts:
You may be wondering whether it was a good idea for Patrick to let the Tara Raiders go free, in essence, on the honor system. (I know I referenced prisoners, we’re going to chalk that up to a continuity error). What if some of them said, “Oh, sure we totally swear not to serve Lord Taradash again!” and then ran off and rejoined him as soon as they left the Forest?
Patrick, I’m going to guess, didn’t think of that. (More accurately, I didn’t.) Also, you’re probably asking where Rathwing Feathertalon was all this time, and if Patrick had access to this guy, once again why did he need the kids to come find him. To which I say, shush. Rathwing was hiding. Obviously. Biding his time. You know. Like falcons do.
Anyway, there’s only two more chapters and an epilogue, folks, so this thing’s winding up! Next week: preparations for the obligatory final battle, and the return of Burrtail!
Oh, there actually is an ending to this thing...