The carriages occupied by Herman and Vattus arrived in Port Saud at dawn, closely followed by two troop carts containing twenty of King Sigus' palace guard.

Vattus, who had lived in the city as a young man was most familiar with the port and quickly made his way to the docks to contact the harbormaster, Dextram Crefor. Herman followed close behind, taking in the sights and moving a little faster than he was accustomed so as to not obstruct the troops who trailed close behind him in tight formation.

When the platoon reached Dextram's building, the old otter was sitting at the front door, smoking his pipe and sipping a tall drink. Upon seeing the approaching soldiers, the harbormaster put down his drink and stood up. It was his experience that being sought out by troops was rarely a good thing and he quickly went over his various money-making schemes in his head to try to determine how much trouble he was in. It was with great relief that he grasped Vattus' hand when offered.

"Harbormaster Crefor," Vattus began, "I am Vattus of Aolas..."

"There is no need for introductions, High Magus, your reputation precedes you," the otter said cheerfully.

"As does yours," the wizard said with a wry smile.

Dextram averted his eyes in embarrassment.
"People and beasts say cruel things, Magus...they spread tales out of jealousy. Do not believe all you have heard," he said defensively.

"I am not here to judge your ethics, Crefor. I need some information and you know all that happens here."

A look of relief came to the old otter's face knowing this visit was not about him.
"Certainly, Vattus, whatever you need. How can I help you?"

"I am looking for a group of Minge, Deev warriors to be specific. Are they here?"

Dextram thought for a moment. He considered denying any knowledge of the Deev, but realized that Vattus would not be asking him if he didn't already strongly suspect they were in Port Saud. He decided the truth would serve him best.

"Horrible beasts...terrifying. They forced me to sell them a plantation a while ago. They left here a few weeks ago and to my knowledge have yet to return," he remembered Squeeker and Squawker, "come to think of it, two other beasts, ferrets...not particularly fierce or bright, came asking for them. Said they had a message from Prince Vasheron, the Minge leader. I sent them to the Deev property. I assume they're still there."

Vattus considered what Dextram had told them.
"You will give us directions there," he said sternly, "if the Deev return, you may tell them about the ferrets, but will omit any reference to us at all, do you understand...this is not a request, Crefor, if you let them know we are here, I will consider it treason...and you know what the punishment for traitors is."

The old otter gulped loudly.
"I never talked to you...I never saw you," he said nervously.

"Good," Vattus concluded, "now give us those directions."

It wasn't long before the entire contingent was back in their transports headed inland in the direction of the Golden Palms plantation. Vattus turned toward his hedgehog friend.

"Have you ever been to Port Saud, Herman?" he asked.

"Can't say that I have, but that don't mean I ain't familiar with it. Truth be told, I gets a lot of my sand fer me glass from this here town," Herman said cheerfully.

Vattus was curious.
"Really? I would have thought that sand is pretty much the same  wherever it comes from. There's quite a bit of sand around Seth-e-Raman and even the Scythian Desert is closer than Port Saud. What is it that makes this sand better?"

Herman laughed loudly.
"That's why you're a wizard and I'm a gaffer. The sand hereabouts is real special...there's at least three kinds of sand here that'n you can't find nowhere else."

"How so?" Vattus asked.

"Well, first let me say that I'm honored ta further the education of a fine gent like yerself. That havin' been said, I'll explain what I mean. The three types of sand what I buys from here are found no where else.

"There's the ruby sand from the north beach...dark red it is. The glass it makes comes out a lovely pink...very popular with the ladies fer glasses, vases and such.

"The black sand comes from the direction we're a goin' and makes a fine dark gray and blue-gray glass what's real popular with the brewers and vineyards 'cause it makes their fine spirits less likely ta spoil.

"The white sand from the Qin-a-Scyth desert is the purest around, even better'n the stuff I used ta get from the west. Crystal clear glass with no specks and smooth coolin'...that's what makes it perfect fer lenses of all kinds...and that Mister Vattus is why I gets me sand from here," the hedgehog concluded happily.

Vattus carefully patted Herman on the back.
"I had no idea. Making glass is a lot like making magic...the better the ingredients, the better the result. I am duly impressed, my fine hog," the wizard chuckled, "for a master assassin, you are quite the craft-beast."

Herman pulled a face.
"I'm getting' downright annoyed with this whole assassin stuff."

"Look at the bright side," Vattus said spryly.

"What bright side?" Herman asked.

"Let enough people know that you're the master of the Assassin's Guild and I doubt you'll ever have any trouble collecting the money that you're owed," the wizard chuckled.

Herman laughed.
"I ain't never thought of that. I reckon that might make all them headaches worthwhile."

Squeeker and Squawker had made themselves extremely comfortable at the Golden Palms plantation in the short time they had spent there waiting for Colonel Taois. Their situation and accommodations were better than they had ever experienced in their short difficult lives.

Neither had ever slept on a real bed before, generally sleeping on hammocks, as aboard ship, on mats of straw, or directly on an assortment of hard uncovered floors. It was as though they had ascended to paradise, resting safely huddled between cool cotton sheets and thick down mattresses.

Food was another great discovery for the brothers. Squawker had stumbled onto a root-cellar and three separate pantries, all  fully stocked with a wide variety of fresh vegetables and preserved fruit and fish.

Squeeker was sprawled out on an over-stuffed couch when Squawker came over to him looking despondent. The younger ferret looked up from his resting place.

"What's wrong, Squawk?" he asked.

The large ferret slumped his shoulders and answered sadly.

"I wish we could stay here...I wish them Deev would just go away and leave us alone ...I ain't never been better fed or better rested than here...and...and...," Squawkers eyes began to tear, "and I knows it's all a lie. Them smokers'll back any day now and then we'll be back to eatin' hard tack, sleepin' on splintery decks and bein' sent somewhere ta get ourselves kilt."

Squeeker sat up and draped his arm around his older brother's shoulder.
"That's what's in our stars, Squawk. Enjoy this stuff today and don't think about tomorrow. Our lives are what they are...now, that don't mean things won't get better fer us, but that ain't anything we can rely on." He looked Squawker in the eyes and smiled, "Cheer up...we made it so far...I was sure we'd be dead by now, so all this is kinda like a bonus ta me. Listen...there ain't no tellin' how this is gonna turn out, so stop worryin'...Okay?"

Squawker stood up and smiled a weak smile at his brother.
"Yeah, you're right Squeek. I'm sorry fer bein' such a baby...it just I ain't never felt as clean or just plain good as I been since we been here and I'm gonna miss it terrible when we leave."

He moved away from the couch toward the front of the room, glancing out the front of the building at the row of tall palms which lined the road leading to the plantation. His eyes suddenly grew very wide and he rushed back to his brother, highly agitated.

"They're back I think!" he blurted out, "There a whole army of beasts headin' our way!"

Squeeker ran to the window and peered out. He could see two carriages and what appeared to be a couple of dozen uniformed troops marching in their direction. He walked to his brother's side and addressed him with resignation.

"It ain't the smokers, Squawk. I ain't sure who they are, but it can't be good fer us no matter who they be."

"What are we gonna do?" his brother asked nervously.

Squeeker let out a loud sigh.
"I say we just go on out and see what they want. Maybe they'll just leave us be or maybe we'll get arrested fer sumpthin'...that wouldn't be too bad really, at least we won't hafta go fight fer the Deev no more...and hell, we been in lockup before, it ain't that different from bein' on a ship."

Squawker warmed up to his brother's course of action. He allowed himself a smile.
"Yeah, without the getting' sick to yer stomach part. I'm with ya bro...let's get this done with."

Vattus was taking a sip of water from his flask. The road to the plantation was dry and dusty. He had just put the container to his lips when

Herman nudged him laughing.
"There's sumthin' ya don't see every day," the hedgehog proclaimed while pointing up the road ahead.

Vattus followed his gesture and saw the source of his amusement. Two ferrets, one slight and the other large were marching toward them, completely naked, with their paws thrust stiffly into the air. The carriages and soldiers halted on Vattus' command and the wizard and hedgehog dismounted their vehicle and walked toward the Fishpaws.

When they were directly in front of the pair Vattus smiled and asked.
"Are you looking for us?"

Before either brother could answer, Herman blurted out.
"Why are you two fellas nekked, it ain't that hot?"

Squeeker answered.
"We didn't want no misunderstandin'...we wanted ya ta see we ain't armed."

Vattus nodded.
"Obviously...is there any reason you think we would harm you?"

This time Squawker responded, modestly covering himself as best he could with his paws.
"We been in the company of mean, cruel beasts, sir. We was fooled and don't wanna do it no more."

"You wouldn't be speaking about the Deev, would you?" Vattus asked.

"Yes sir, them's the devils we mean," Squeeker replied.

Herman became suddenly alert.
"Are they in that there plantation?" he asked urgently.

Squeeker shook his head.
"No sir, we ain't seen them since we got here a while back. We had a message from their leader that we was suppose to deliver on pain of death. We was told they was out of town, so we been waitin', but now we just want ta be done with them smokers. That's all we're a wantin'."

"Fair enough," Vattus said, "we'll all head back to the plantation and you'll answer our questions. If you're honest with us, we will leave you to your own destinies."

"Thankee, sir, that would be right kind of ya. We'll answer as best we can." Squeeker said honestly. They turned and walked slowly back up the road followed by Vattus, Herman, and King Sigus' troops.

The small contingent of troops set up a perimeter around the plantation to watch for the Deev, splitting into three groups to the north, south and west. Since the eastern limit of the plantation lands bordered on the desert, no watch was established to that side.

Vattus and Herman entered the main building and sat around a kitchen table facing the Fishpaw brothers. Squeeker insisted on making some tea, hoping that hospitality would mitigate any punishment they might be facing.

Vattus couldn't help from smiling at the small ferret's nervous attention. He sought to reassure the two beasts.
"You have nothing to fear from us if you are honest in your answers. Let us begin with introductions. I am Vattus, High Magus of the Council of Wizards and this fine beast," he gestured toward Herman, "is Herman Corkspike, Master of the Guild of Assassins."

Vattus noticed Herman wince slightly at the use of his inherited title that had become such an embarrassment to him, but the grand sounding introduction had served the purpose the wizard sought. He could see the awe and fear in the ferret's eyes. Now he felt confident that the brothers would be forthright, since it was apparent that they feared the wizard and the assassin as much as they feared the Deev. The ferrets remained silent, wide-eyed, and shaking till Vattus continued, "And you are?"

"I...I...I'm Squeeker Fishpaw," the smaller ferret stuttered nervously, "and this is me liddle brother Squawker."

Vattus nodded and continued his interrogation gently.
"And how is it you ended up here, Squeeker Fishpaw?"

It was as though a dam broke. Squeeker began recounting everything that the two had done and witnessed since they first joined up with the Deev. There were few details he missed as he babbled on with Squawker nodding vigorously beside him. When he was finished, he took a deep swig of his tea and waited for the wizard's response.

Vattus had listened carefully and took great comfort in knowing that Wilbur and Max were safe and accounted for. He looked into the frightened eyes of the brothers and spoke.
"I do not hold you or your brother to blame for any of the Deev's crimes, you were unaware of the evil they have perpetrated. The fact that you are anxious to leave their company shows me you are creatures of conscience. We have no intention of punishing you, but..." he emphasized the 'but', "but, I cannot allow you to leave us until our business with this Colonel Taois is done. We cannot risk him discovering  that we are waiting for him. Do you accept these terms?"

Squeeker had hoped they could just leave immediately, but resigned himself to the wizard's conditions. He looked to his brother, who sat silent.
"Whatever it takes to make our lives normal agin, sir."

"Excellent," Vattus said rising and patting the two beasts on the back, "so now we will wait." He allowed himself a laugh, "I would recommend that you go ahead and put some clothes back on."

At about the same time the Fishpaws were narrating their tale of woe to Vattus, a small boat tied up at the docks of Port Saud and four silent and ominous beasts came ashore.

Colonel Taois' mood had not improved on the final leg of their journey and he walked swiftly in the direction of the harbor-masters direction without a word.

Dextram Crefor was sitting in a wicker rocking chair outside his office trying to catch a quick winks in the draining heat when he saw the Minge approaching. His heart immediately began beating like a snare drum. His mind raced. He quickly decided what to tell Taois and what to omit so as to not bring the wrath of either the Deev or the wizard down on him.

He feigned sleep. Taois approached him and kicked the chair. Dextram looked up and put on what he considered a genuine smile.

"Colonel Taois," he blurted out a bit too enthusiastically, "welcome back. I hope your mission was a success."

"What do you know of our mission, otter!?" the Deev spat out angrily.

"Nothing! Nothing at all!"  he answered desperately sensing Taois' pent up fury.

"Don't try your fawning nonsense on me, Crefor, just answer my questions!"

"You haven't asked any questions, sir," the otter replied nervously.

Taois glared at him.
"Has anyone asked about us? Has anyone unfamiliar come to Port Saud recently?" he finally asked

Dextram looked up meekly at the Minge Colonel.
"There were two ferrets. They carried a message from Prince Vasheron. I sent them ahead to the plantation."

Taois continued to brood. He was fairly certain what Vasheron's message was, an inquiry concerning the status of the Rubitar. He no longer cared about the magical stone, it was only vengeance that fueled him now. He didn't want the Prince to feel he was ignoring him, but he didn't want to return to his Deev comrades on Xenoth till his business was done here. He would need to eliminate the messengers and claim to have never received the dispatch. He stared at Dextram. The otter would need to be killed as well.
"Anyone else...any strangers?"

"Not that I noticed, sir," Dextram lied, he saw no reason to fuel the colonel's rage by mentioning Vattus or the troops.

Taois nodded.
"Very well. We will be heading back to the plantation. Keep yourself available, otter, I will be needing to see you before we leave again."

"You will find me here, Colonel Taois, when you need me," Dextram said weakly.

"I had better, Crefor, for your sake." The colonel turned and stormed off with the three Deev in his wake.

Dextram Crefor watched them as they disappeared down the street. He spit on the ground in contempt when he knew they could no longer see him.

"Good riddance," he said in relief.