Durro explained everything to his pack: his lying, his betrayal against the otter, and finally his choice to become a believer. His mother gave him a big bear hug that nearly cracked his back, but it was all for love of her son.
“I want Drake and Nape to do the same,” she said.
“Well if you hug them like this they'll be dead before they can.” Durro said in jest. Bertha let go of her son and smiled.
“So when are we going to do this?” replied Casey, “Going against Nape straight on is dangerous.”
“You're not afraid of him are you?”
“Him no,” said Casey touching the brim of his top hat, “ But his axe puts a fright in me.”
“Don't worry I have a plan.” said Durro motioning for all to huddle around him.
It was a very simple plan, but one mistake could cost the life of everyone. Once they spotted Nape's castle a scout would be sent out to see which area had the least amount of security. Once inside they would fight and capture at least one gang member and force him to talk. One of the wolves suggested to have Phigaro sing to get to force information out of him. The aye-aye slightly disgruntled from the nomination, ignored the comment and demanded that they stay on subject.
Once Reiach's whereabouts were known, they would take him and leave the castle without Nape ever suspecting them.
“All right,” said Casey proud of the plan, “I say it's the best we got.”
“Seems to simple.” said Phigaro shaking his head, “What if there are guards everywhere, what if Reiach is being guard at every hour, what if----”
“No time for the what if's” said Durro standing tall, “We have an otter to save.”
“It's all for one and one for all, right Durro?” said Casey triumphantly.
“Uh-- I don't know what that means“ replied Durro perplexed, “, but---uh--- let's just save Reiach. Come on!”
After four days of travel, Nape's castle was in view. The last hour's journey brought a heavy snow that Casey had never seen in Gosha before. Snowflakes fell with such speed and severity that within one hour the snow was nearly to their knees, and Phigaro was forced to ride on Casey's shoulders. The castle windows were lit with a ember hue and cries of merriment were heard inside.
“Sounds like a partly is going on,” said Casey, “And the nerve of Nape for not inviting us.”
“I guess we'll have to crash it.” said Bertha.
“We have to hurry I got a bad feeling that Nape is about to do something bad.”
“He's always doing something bad,” said Durro, “I need a scout.”
Three wolves volunteered, and Durro choose one to perform the job. Phigaro watched as the scout jumped in and out of the snow like a grasshopper, waiting a few moments before the next jump. He gradually made his way to the base of the castle without being seen. Once there, the scout carefully snuck around the perimeter, looking for any signs of guards. After fifteen minutes he returned.
“Which side is the weakest?” asked Durro. “All sides,” said the scout.
“Impossible, Nape is too smart for that. Are you sure?”
“You know I have the best eyes in this pack, Durro,” said the scout, “ You always trusted my judgment. I'm telling you there's not one guard watching from the towers, from the wall, nor the base of that castle.”
Durro shot a glare at his mother.
“He is up to something bad,” said Bertha. “Hold on, Reiach, were coming for you.”
The party was contrived by Nape to temporarily remove his thoughts from Reiach. For the past month he was unsuccessful in forcing the otter to turn on his faith: he cursed the otter, beat him twice, and even starved him, but the otter did not relinquish; and even prayed right in front of him that he would be saved. It was too much for Nape to bear and the party was a needed appeasement.
Inside the dungeon, Reiach sat silently listening to the ruckus above. Suddenly the door opened and two wolves holding large goblets of wine entered. Clearly they were under the influence of the drink. It was embarrassing to see. The mockery of wine had its way as both wolves nearly fell down the stairs. The wolf who was able balance himself unchained the otter from the wall and carried him out of the dungeon.
The hall was crowded with two hundred wolves: one hundred of Napes' prime pack and one hundred of Drakes. The two alpha males sat side by side on thrones behind a table decorated with fine foods. A host of twenty wolves joined them while the others either stood or were found in the balconies. A horn was blown to quiet the crowd. From there Nape made his way to the center of the hall.
“History my dear wolves is to be controlled by the strong.” said Nape beginning his oration, “Tonight we all will make history. I Nape and Drake alpha male of the mid-lands of Gosha will unite our packs to destroy a foe greater than anything we seen in Gosha. Bring out the enemy!”
Reiach was lead in by the two drunkards who stumbled to the side into the crowd. The otter walked cautiously up the center as he was bombarded with threatening bites and verbal abuse. Nape smiled joyfully at the otter's blatant fear.
Rieach stopped in front of Nape and stood still.
“This enemy will destroy all of us.“ replied Nape returning to his speech, “Some of your brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends have forsaken the their way of life and has found a so-called haven in this one savior called Kleos. Let me be the first to say I will not stand for it and neither should you. We must unite! We must be strong! We must destroy the Gospel!”
Cheers spread through the hall as a deep sickness came over Reiach.
“And how you might ask?” said Nape scanning the crowd. “What I ask will be hard, but I must be done. Every wolf must make a kill and continue to kill until we eradicate this gospel. The land must be cleansed--if those believers find joy in their Lord then let us send him His remnant!”
“You're a sicko.” said Rieach looking up to Nape. The wolf looked down in amazement.
“Yeah that's right---you're a sicko!” replied the otter bobbing his head. “ I pity you and even now I pray that God will change your heart. You need to stop fighting God.”
“I'll fight God until I die.” was his fatal words
“Now---it time for some fun.” Nape went back to the table at took hold of his axe.
By this time Durro and his crew were already inside the castle. They were very close to saving Reiach but one obstacle stood in there way. Up ahead, down a darkened corridor, was guard. In compliance with the plan the surrounded him and forced him to talk. After find out Rieach whereabouts in the main hall. They need a way to keep the guard from alarming others.
“Mom,” said Durro, “Take no offense but your weight is needed at this moment.”
“How?”
“Sit on him until I get back: it'll keep him from calling any other guards. So that's what Bertha did to the guard's discomfort.
“I'll be back in about thirty minutes.” said Durro.
“THIRTY MINUTES!” cried the guard in agony, “You mom's weight is killing me!”
“Oh be quiet.” replied Bertha bouncing on the guard out of spite, “I'm not that heavy. “That's a lie and you know it!” said the guard.
Bertha smiled and bounced on the guard again to silence him.
It was impossible to attempt the rescue directly. The best attack would have to be a surprise.
“I can probably get in from the roof.” said Phigaro, “If Nape's hall is like yours there'll be chandlers hanging from the top. I'll cut one from down and when it crashes that your cue to go in.”
It was a plan! Casey gave Phigaro his knife and the aye- aye went back out into the snow. He had little trouble working his way up. A few crates stacked on one another helped him to the first ledge. He scaled a wall and then another until he came to where he thought the roof was. However with the heavy fall of snow and the night, Phigaro found himself looking in every direction trying to find for some indication of the main hall. He shuffled through the snow with his knife ready in case of trouble, but after five minutes he had returned to the second wall he had scaled earlier.
“Oh no, I'm lost.” he said shaking his head.
He backed tracked, hardly seeing the way, and found himself more disoriented as before. It finally dawned to him that he should follow the sounds of coming from the hall; and when he did, he manage to find it without any trouble. However a problem presented itself: a wolf on guard was leaning to the side of a wall where the window was for entry. The aye-aye hide around the adjacent wall. Phigaro figured he would have to do some serious fighting so he sized up his opponent.
“He's bigger than me, faster than me, and he has link of chains as a weapon.” said Phigaro looking around the corner, “ But nicely packed snowball should knock him out.” Phigaro made the hardest snowball that he could; and winding up his pitch, he threw it at the wolf's head. The projectile made its mark and the one armed wolf stumbled slightly, grabbing his head. Yet to Phigaro's dismay the snowball did not completely do the job and the one-armed wolf turned his eyes upon Phigaro.
“I didn't know wolves had such hard noggins.” said Phigaro displaying his blade.
The one armed wolfed came apace, giving himself some slack from his chain. He spun the chain like a propeller. Phigaro dodged the chain as his opponent brought it down like a whip using his mouth as an substitute appendage to aid him. Once---twice----three times came the chain down into the snow in furious rage! Phigaro saw his chance; and taking his dagger, threw at the wolf's chest. It spun in the air, but the wolf easily stepped to the side.
“That wasn't smart.” replied Phigaro as he smack his forehead in frustration. His only hope now was to run.
“I'M GOING TO DIE, I'M GOING TO DIE, I'M GOING TO DIE!” he said repeatedly as he ran for his life.
The one arm wolf gave chase, swing the chain at Phigaro's head and body. Phigaro ran across the roof top jumping off small ledges, turning left, right, and then left again trying his best to shaking his pursuer, but the wolf predatorily stayed with his prey. In a grand move the one armed wolf swung his chain, clipping Phigaro at the feet. The aye-aye tumbled for a few feet coming to rest helplessly in the snow. He saw the claws of his opponent coming towards and did the only thing he knew to do.
“GOD, HELP ME!”
Suddenly the one armed wolf's countenance became placid. He stood amazed for a moment and then gave Phigaro a askance. The one armed wolf returned the chain around his body and lifted Phigaro to his feet.
“You sound like that otter down there.” said the one arm wolf, “Why are you up here?” Phigaro explained the rescue attempt. A grin came over the one arm wolf's face.
“Really? Sorry about the scare, this is usually my spot for me to hang out. And you shouldn't throw rock hard snowballs at a wolf unless you want a fight.”
“Believe me, I understand that now,” said Phigaro catching his breath.
“My name is Spade. I'll help you save Reiach, in fact, I think it will be fun.”