Aboard the Maelstrom, a lonely figure took a pause in its pacing back and forth across the deck, to stare longingly towards the harbor. The Figure, a heavy-set, blue-furred member of the feline family, thought with envy of his fellow crewmen, now currently living it up in one of the area's pleasure establishments. He would have liked to be in their shoes, but unfortunately for him, being the newest addition to the crew, meant that the Captain had selected him to stay guard over the ship.
His stomach growling, the cat went over to a nearby barrel and took from it a dried herring. Unfortunately, he barely got to savor this meager repast, for just as he had swallowed down the fish's head, something struck him on the back of his head, and such was the force of the blow, that it immediately pulled a veil down over his eyes and caused his legs to give out underneath him.
It was, of course, none other than Jeraddin who had caused the cat to take this involuntary nap. As he massaged his paw, the lynx looked down at the unconscious form at his feet and, while doing so, thought back on the days of his youth, when he would lead small groups of soldiers in raids on Frigonian camps. It was comforting to know that the on-set of middle-age had not diminished his skill at taking an unsuspecting sentry by surprise.
Of course, we slit the Frigonian guard's throats rather than knocking them unconscious, Jeraddin mused. Red on steel, red on claws. Gruesome business. You can count yourself lucky that its peace-time and that you are a civilian and a Vinolian citizen. Still, I had better take some additional precautions, in case you'd come to while I'm still aboard.
Taking a look around the deck, Jeraddin soon found what he was looking for: A rope, which he used to tie the cat's paws together behind his back. This task accomplished, the lynx set about exploring the ship. Jeraddin knew that the Captain's quarters were usually located right under the bridge and indeed, there was a door right there. A door which turned out to be locked. Jeraddin thought about searching the cat's pockets, but decided that that would be a waste of time. After all, Cerewan would hardly have entrusted the keys to the cabin to one of his crew, instead of taking them with him. He briefly considered to search the ship for a crowbar, or some other kind of tool with which to get the door open, but decided that it would eat up too much time and time was something Jeraddin did not wish to waste.
Had Jeraddin been a burglar, he would have carried a set of lock-picks with which to open any door. But, of course, he was not one and therefore had none.
With no other alternative left to him, Jeraddin decided to resort to brute force. Bracing himself, the lynx gave the door a hard tackle, putting all his strength behind it. One more go was all it took for the hinges to give and the door to come crashing down. After a quick look over his shoulder, to make sure that the noise had not waken the cat, or attracted any attention from the harbor, Jeraddin entered Cerewan's sanctum.
Inside, Jeraddin's gaze swept past the unmade bed and the chest containing what was no doubt the Captain's clothes and other personal belongings, but rested on the small bookcase, containing a strongbox, a logbook and two black ledgers.
Jeraddin first picked up the strongbox and gave it a shake. The Rattling sound made it obvious that it only contained money. He put it back, took out the logbook and leafed through it, but could find nothing incriminating in it. Disappointed, but still hopeful, he took out one of the ledgers. It was marked 'Merchandise: Earnings'.
This seems promising.
However, upon opening the ledger, all the lynx met with was a blank page. A quick look confirmed that all the pages were blank. Frustrated, Jeraddin took out the other ledger, marked 'Expenses'.
Same thing there. How was this possible? Jeraddin scratched his head in bewilderment. He refused to believe that Cerewan had simply not written anything in either ledger and yet, there was nothing there. Unless....
Jeraddin went over to the chest and opened it. Inside he found what he was looking for; a tinder-box and a candle. He carried these items and the ledgers over to the Captain's table and sat down.
Having lit the candle, the lynx opened the first ledger and held the flame close to the page, making sure that they did not come into contact with each other. Gradually, letters became visible.
Jeraddin had to bite down on his tongue to suppress a sudden urge to shout 'Hurrah!, his hunch had been correct. He proceeded to do the same to each of the ledger's pages, until its secrets were revealed to him. On each page rows and rows of names were written and next to each name, a species and a sum.
These must be the poor wretches Cerewan delivered to the slave-market, Jeraddin thought, with a heavy heart. Then, he saw one name and although he had been prepared for it, it made his insides turn cold:
Risha Lynx 2 silver 50 bronze.
With a ferocious expression on his face, Jeraddin slammed the ledger shut. He had seen enough. As for the other ledger, he had a hunch that it contained the bribes Cerewan had to pay, not just to the authorities to keep them from putting their nose in his business, but also to other scoundrels, more powerful than he himself.
Jeraddin picked up the ledgers and hid them under his shirt. He was just about to leave, only to get a most unwelcome surprise:
Standing in the doorway was the cat, holding a flintlock pistol whose muzzle was pointed straight at Jeraddin.
"So, you are the mangy cur responsible for my headache. You have three seconds to tell me your business here and then, I'll shoo..."
With a roar, Jeraddin leaped towards the cat and, before the latter had time to react had wrenched the gun out of his paw. Jeraddin bent down to pick up the weapon, but by now, the cat had regained his composure and with a furious meow, threw himself on top of the lynx. The Two adversaries rolled around on the floor, teeth biting, claws scratching. During their fight, they crashed violently into the table, causing the still lit candle to fall to the floor. The Flame did not go out, instead it spread across the floor, growing in size the more dust-bunnies it consumed.
Suddenly, the cat let out a pained howl and rushed out of the cabin, the tip of his tail on fire. As for Jeraddin, he was frantically searching for the ledgers, which he had dropped during the brawl. There they were! Already being licked by the flames. Quickly, Jeraddin snatched a blanket from the Captain's cot and smothered the flames with it.
Unfortunately, Jeraddin discovered his dismay that one of the ledgers had been practically burnt to the crisp. However, the other was still in decent condition, only somewhat singed in the corners. Jeraddin picked it up and, clutching it tightly to his chest, the lynx left the cabin and headed down the Maelstrom's gangplank, as quickly as his feet could carry him, barely paying attention to the splashing sound coming from the water below.
****
In a tavern not far from where the Maelstrom was anchored, her Captain and most of her crew, were busy enjoying themselves, when the tavern-doors suddenly flew open and a young water-rat, visibly out of breath rushed inside.
"Cap'n Cerewan, come quickly!" The Youth gasped, looking at the tiger. "Your ship, its on fire!"
"You little...." Cerewan grabbed hold off the messenger's collar. "If this is a joke, you'll live to regret it."
"No joke, Cap'n" the water-rat protested, his voice trembling slightly. "I swear."
"You better not" Cerewan growled. He let go of the water-rat and turned to his crew. "Alright, men, break it up! We're leaving!"
As one the crew dropped everything they were doing and, followed their Captain out the door. Once outside, the smell of something burning hung in the air, invading their nostrils. A smell that came in the direction of the Maelstrom. Cerewan's striped face turned white with rage, whoever was responsible for this would pay dearly.
****
Only when he was finally back inside his own home did Jeraddin become aware of how exhausted tonight's events had made him.
No doubt, age is catching up on, you old boy, he thought, as he headed for his bedroom.
Once there, the lynx had barely removed his boots, before he collapsed on top of the bed. Next morning, Flora came and knocked on his bedroom door, as per instructions. And, when she not get an answered, stepped inside and found the General sound asleep, still wearing his clothes, using what looked like a black ledger as a pillow.
