Prince Vasheron was beside himself with anger, clenching his jaw and fists in an attempt to maintain his outward calm. He sat at a small table on the oceanfront of Port Saud. Around him, several of his Deev gathered, including Colonel Taois, Captain Mobus, and two scouts who had just returned from Minga. None of the news he had received was good. He learned of the loss of the Rubitar, now a hundred feet below the surface of the Aurias Straits and the loss of three more Deev, drowned in the storm which Vattus had conjured. While the Rubitar's fate was extremely disconcerting to him, it was the loss of his beasts which proved the most distressing.

For five hundred years there had been thirty Deev and now in the span of only a few months, he had lost seven, and that did not take into account Deeb Shatus, killed and resurrected as a Scarlet Brother.

The news from Minga was no better. His force of Brigands was ready to move on Xenoth, but Azmeritus had put out an alarm to the remainder of the Brotherhood, and their ships patrolled the waters outside Minga, ready to engage and destroy his pirate fleet should they leave the safety of the harbor. It was as though Azmeritus had read his mind and intentions of betrayal.

Equally alarming to the Prince was the word reaching him that Xenoth itself was being reinforced with thousands of Scarlet Brothers. Nothing was working according to the Prince's plan and he was not taking it well. Remaining seated, he spoke through gritted teeth.
"Curse these blasted beasts and to hell with those conniving priests! Is the whole world against me? I will see Azmeritus' head on a spike, by god I will. And you! The great Deev, ha! You have become weak, like women. Beaten by untrained fools. The Rubitar lost. How will we regain our immortality now? What motivation does Azmeritus have to fulfill his promise? Now that he has learned of our plan to conquer the Brotherhood, there will be no measure of trust remaining in him.  

"Thankfully, we still have the Abitar, we can only pray that he desires it enough to allow us the chance to redeem ourselves in his disgusting pink eyes. I will be reduced to begging! Me, a Prince of the royal blood, begging!" He looked around at his minions. They hung their heads in shame. He continued,  "Don't stand there sulking like spoiled children! Does anyone have an idea? Anything?"

Captain Mobus limped forward. The right side of his body and face were devoid of fur, his flesh bluish and oozing, the result of grasping the Rubitar and hurling it overboard during the events at Seth-e-Raman.

"Well? Speak up!" Vasheron snapped.

"My lord," Mobus began painfully, "we should approach the priest and deliver the Abitar. We know where the Rubitar is and Azmeritus does not, we may still sway his thinking with that knowledge."

Vasheron studied his captain carefully. Mobus waited nervously, spittle dribbling from the paralyzed right side of his mouth. A small smile appeared on the Prince's face as he considered the suggestion.

"A good suggestion," he replied, calm once more, "Azmeritus is interested only in his ultimate goal. He needs the stones and we need him. If I meet with him and confess my so-called sins, let him know his suspicions were correct, but give him an understandable reason for our actions, he will be willing to negotiate. I am certain of it.

"As for the Rubitar, it is secure until we find a way to recover it. I will make for Xenoth tomorrow. You will accompany me, Captain Mobus. We will bring the Abitar to the priest to ensure him of our 'loyalty' and promise to retrieve the Rubitar. Taois, you will stay behind and return to Seth-e-Raman with six of our Minge and spy on the king's forces, they will most certainly attempt some kind of recovery. If they do, steal it back, if not...wait for my return."

Taois snapped to attention.
"Yes, your highness. What shall we do with the brigands and ships we have waiting in Minga?"

"Let them wait, make no contact. It is almost certain that Azmeritus has spies among them. If we simply ignore them it will ease the priest's doubts, especially after I give Azmeritus the names of all their leaders. He will think we have come back into his flock and regret our earlier actions."

"What then?" Taois asked.

Vasheron stood and began walking away.
"Then we will bide our time till we have regained what we lost," the Prince said disdainfully, "we will wait until the freak is preoccupied with his holy mission. Then we shall strike and repay him for the shame we are being forced to endure!"

By the time the carriage reached Thoth, Chumley's entire body throbbed and tingled. He stumbled out of the stage and fell to his knees, kissing the ground lightly. Wearily, he rolled over on his back and lay facing the sky, enjoying the calm of inertia. He remained motionless on the black cobblestones of the Thoth marketplace where the stagecoach had stopped. Various creatures walked by, gazing down at him in curiosity, some recognizing him as the former governor. A few inquired if he needed help and he sent them on their way, insisting groggily that all he needed was some peace and quiet.

After a short while, a familiar beast walked up and stood over him, gently prodding him in the ribs with his foot. Chumley opened his eyes in annoyance and broke into a tired grin.

"Thoris, good of yah ta meet me, mate."
The weasel looked down at his friend as a bustle of creatures passed by on their daily routines.

"You know, there'th a nithe warm bed in the cathle waiting for you," he said trying not to laugh.

"And ah intend ta use it, soon as ah can feel mah legs again," he made a painful face, "ah ain't slept in three days, 'ave ah? Three days of shakin' and bouncin'."

"Whath going on? What newth do you have?" Thoris asked urgently.

"Ah will tell you all once ah get some sleep, now be a good chap and let me rest, will ya?"   Chumley insisted, half awake.

Thoris knelt and despite the rat's protests, raised him to a sitting position.
"You can't thleep in the middle of the threet, thomeone will thep on you or run you over, bethides, Belinda and Dema would get mad at me if I left you thprawled out like a limpet."

The mention of Belinda's name gave Chumley a burst of energy. He stood slowly, rubbing his limbs.
"Belinda? 'Ow's she doin'?" he asked.

"She'th fine Chum. Come on, I'll get you to that nithe bed."

Chumley began to follow when he suddenly slapped his forehead and pointed to the stagecoach.
"We've got a coupla pals in there. They need ta come with us. Be a pal and rouse them, will ya Thorry, me chum?"

Thoris walked over to the carriage and popped his head inside. Two creatures, one small and one immense, lay curled in tight balls, snoring at an unimaginable volume. He poked them gently. The larger ball unfurled, revealing a smiling and yawning hedgehog.

"Howdy. I sure is tired, who'd think sittin' down could wear a body out so much?" the hedgehog intoned, "My name is Herman and this little ball of fluff be my brother Winnie."

Thoris took an immediate liking to the big beast.
"Welcome to Thoth, Herman. My name ith Thorith. Chumley'th out here and I'm going to take you all to the palath where you can clean up, eat, and get a dethent thleep."

Herman eased himself out of the carriage. He gently picked up his little brother who was still tightly curled, sleeping soundly, and snoring loudly.
"Pleased ta meet cha, mister Thoris, Chum's told me all about ya. Lead on friend."
They joined Chumley who smiled at the little curled hog in Herman's arms.

"Ah see the little scoundrel 'as finally wore 'imself out, ain't 'e?" the rat chuckled.

"He has, bless his heart. I'm tryin' not to wake the little rogue, so's I kin get him into a bath without his knowin'. He don't like bathin' and put's up a brave fight when he gets near a tub. I figgers I can get him in afore he knows what's happening."

As they walked toward the castle, Thoris chuckled.
"Chumley'th exactly the thame, maybe we can chuck them into the thame tub."

Chumley yawned broadly.
"Just toss me in a bed and scrub me down, ah won't feel a thing." He smiled wearily.

When the small crew reached Castle Thoth, they were greeted by Deedor Barus, the Lokian wolf whom Chumley had appointed governor of Morgaard in his stead. Introductions were made and Thoris escorted Herman, still carrying the snoozing Winnie, to their quarters.

Chumley, still groggy, tried to organize his thoughts as he addressed the young wolf.

"There are grave strategies afoot, mah lupine friend. Ah am in dire need of sleep, but ah'd like you tah 'ave some things ready when ah am once more mah charmin' astute self."

Deedor laughed.
"What can I do, Chumley?"

The rat put his paw on the wolf's shoulder.
"Ah'd like you to arrange a meetin' in the morn. We need some representatives of the metal-workin' guild, the city guard, and the stone-workers."

"Not a problem, I'll see to it." Deedor responded.

" 'As anyone found out where that friend of yours, King Frega maght be?" Chumley asked.

Deedor smiled.
"Yes, indeed there is news. He has been located with his guard and will be arriving in Thoth any day."

"That is good news indeed, ain't it. Ah'm lookin' forward ta seein' me old wolfy pal, it's been quite a while since ah laid eyes on that scraggy bloke. Good news indeed," Chumley yawned, "now ah am goin' tah greet mah lovely wife and get some sleep so me brain can start up again." He clapped Deedor on the back and walked down the hallway to his quarters.

Belinda was anxiously awaiting Chumley's arrival. When he entered their room, she rushed over and gave him a tight smothering hug.
"It's wonderful to have you back, my love!" she said covering his face with kisses.

"Ah missed you dearly, love, didn't ah? It's great tah hold yah, ah been dreamin' about it." Chumley responded gently. He walked over to their bed and flopped back on it, "Ah been dreamin' about this bed too, but only for the last coupla days...god, it feels good."

Belinda sat on the bed next to her prone husband, gently stroking his head.
"Chumley?" she asked meekly.

"Yeah, darlin'?" he responded through a yawn.

"There's something important I have to tell you."

"What's that, mah love." The rat asked as he began to drift into sleep.

"I'm not sure how to tell you. I don't know how you'll feel about it."

"It feels fine...feels...fine." Chumley said softly.

"Chumley?" Belinda asked, feeling her mate going limp. Snores began to escape the now sleeping rat's lips. Belinda smiled and leaned over her husband, kissing him gently on the forehead.

"It can wait, my love. Sleep well."