Fishwhacked: Reign of the Walrus Witch

Chapter 22

Squirm sat in the dark rafters of the decrepit dock. The frozen lake was below him, the only source of light being the night sky glistening off its surface, and the entire castle was above him. He began to form a poignant metaphor about carrying the weight of the castle on his shoulders when he heard Baitman's voice right behind him.

"Just checking on you one last time."

Squirm jumped, and then turned to face him. Baitman was up in the rafters as well. Squirm looked down at the series of errant planks he had used to climb up.

"Yeah, it was a bit of a climb. But I would do anything for the Fish God." Baitman ran a whetstone along the blade of his swordfish-bone rapier. "Are you sure the lake freezing over won't be a problem?"

Squirm nodded.

"Good. I knew I could count on you. We're going to make the Walrus Witch pay for this violation of nature. When the Fishlass returns, I want nothing to stand between her and the Walrus Witch. I'm going to go finish up some loose ends. Good luck in your endeavor. I'll be back to check on you." Baitman disappeared into the shadows. This was followed by the sounds of footsteps on creaky wood, then a series of crashes, and Baitman swearing.

Squirm turned back to the lake. He lost track of time, staring out at the white expanse, and almost fell asleep. When he saw Paistra approaching along the lake with Yawp and a man who matched the description of Captain Cowlick, his stomach dropped.

Ebb wasn't with them, either.

"This is it," Paistra said. She led them to the center of the dock, and they looked around at the mangled piers bathed in shadows.

Yawp stepped up next to her. "I can't see a damn thing."

"Well. That's it for me, folks," Cowlick announced. "I'm sure you can get my money to me without a problem, right? I'm the one and only Cowlick in all of Drownvale. Probably all of Idunno."

"Yeah, I guess. Thanks for getting us here. And thanks for not setting us up," Paistra said.

"Hey, I told you." Cowlick turned to leave but stopped when he heard a dozen crossbows being loaded. He turned back to see the pier light up with torches. Men in tight boar-leather jumpsuits, their faces concealed, were pointing very unpleasant crossbows with barbed, serrated bolts at them.

"You figurative and literal two-face!" Yawp shouted. He strode over to Cowlick and picked up up by the head.

"I have nothing to do with this!" Cowlick tried to say, but its meaning was lost as it was muffled by Yawp's giant hand.

Squirm dropped down onto the pier, making the wood creak. He stared at the nearest crossbowman.

"Squirm!" Paistra yelled. "Who are these guys?"

"Mercenaries," one of the men answered in an upbeat tone.

"Baitman hired a whole bunch of us, and he figured Squirm could use our help with his task."

"And what is your task, Squirm?" Paistra asked. She placed her hands over her canteens.

"Well, I mean, they're pointing crossbows at us," Yawp said. "What else can it be?"

Paistra glared at him. Squirm jumped down onto the ice and walked towards her.

"What do you have to do with Baitman?"

Squirm sighed. He walked up to her and put his arms around her.

"Hands on," one of the mercenaries said to another. "He does it the old-fashioned way. I miss those days."

"Squirm..." Paistra hugged him back. He broke off after a few seconds and faced the mercenaries. He motioned for them to lower their weapons.

"Uh, you sure? Our instructions are pretty explicit," a mercenary asked, a little disappointed.