Original Introduction to Master of the Sea

Author's note: This is the unedited version of a deleted chapter from Ned Bear and The Dirty Whisker Curse. So you may find some pacing and grammar issues as you read.

On my first draft, I really liked this chapter. It's sandwiched in between two other sections where there is a lot of world building and I enjoyed the aspect of Ned going to see Pierre at a concert. When reading fantasy, I've always enjoyed modern things being refurbished into a different time period.

For those of you who have read the book, you will recognize Master of the Sea. It's important to the plot of the story but this chapter really slowed down the pacing to an already slow first act in the book. I needed them to speed up and get them on the ship and on their way and sitting at a concert really slowed them down. In the published version they're walking through the streets and I'm getting them to the Cathedral. In the original version by including this concert chapter, it took me nearly two full chapters to get them to the Cathedral as opposed to just one in the final version.

I really hated having to cut all the scenes from the Temple in the final version, but it really was what was best for the final story. I hope you enjoy some of these deleted scenes, as I look forward to including more.

Chapter 4.02 : The Temple and the Cathedral

The energy was high in the room as everyone seemed to know every song Pierre’s band was playing. Jaja, Natty, and Amina were hardly paying attention to music, as they were enjoying the food. They must have seen this show many times, but Ned and Felix could hardly take their eyes away from the stage in order to eat. It was the sound of Jaja’s mallet that reminded Ned there was food on the table.

The beaver leaned over the table to get Ned’s attention. “Do you think you’ll be taking to the sea with us Ned?” Natty shouted over the horns behind him.

“I don’t know if a life at sea is for me,” Ned said trying not to yell.

“Sit down Natty.” Amina pulled the beaver back into his chair. “Not everyone is cut out for a life out at sea.”

“We’re so close.” Natty pleaded with her.

Amina waved a paw at the beaver. “We’d be risking a lot for a riddle. Sailing to the end of the world for treasure. We’d be better off looting other ships to pay for an army.” she said.

The music stopped briefly, and the hall erupted in barks and cheers. Pierre waved to the crowd before taking a sip from a tankard he had on stage.

“Hey pups.” Pierre’s voice amplified through the glowing blue horns in front of him. “I got a treat for you all.”

The crowd barked and cheered again in anticipation. Pierre smiled and stepped back, letting them finish.

“We’ve been working on a couple special little numbers.” Pierre continued. “Including a revived version of the Goran song you all love so much. Found a way to include the horns.” The crowd cheered and began to bang their mugs on the table. “We thought cause this is a special venue, near and dear to our hearts, we’d play a couple new songs for you all.”

Pierre looked right at Ned and winked. Ned now realized Pierre lied to him. He only came because he thought Pierre needed him, and it turns out Pierre didn’t need him at all. However, the bear was having such a good. He was thankful that he came regardless of the reason.

“Here’s Big Eli with his possessed fiddle going to kick this set of songs off.” Pierre said and then stepped aside as the smaller of the two red foxes took center stage.

Big Eli was a master fiddle player and the song did more than highlight his talent. Ned couldn’t hear all the lyrics, but from what he could hear, the song was about the Wolverine God Timun, King of the Underworld, coming to the surface to challenge Big Eli to a fiddle contest. Lil Eli the bigger of the two red foxes, played the Timuns part with a small section of horns. When it came time for Big Eli to play, he beat Timun with a solo, and then the entire band erupted into the melodies. Ned even felt himself wanting to get out of his chair and cheer.

Every song they played, the crowd loved. All them were upbeat and made Ned want to dance. He was too embarrassed to, but a large group of otters weren’t. A crowd of standing and dancing otters began to form in front of the stage making it difficult for others to see. Felix ended up standing on the table to watch.

There was a song about a fox on the run, another one about an otteress who didn’t like Pierre but it was alright, and what appeared to be everyone’s favorite, a song about when the Koga would go marching in. Each song was completely different than the one before. Pierre was such an incredible performer that the crowd seemed to hang on his every word. He sung one song where he just repeated the word ‘Thunder’ for the chorus, and it was one of the best songs Ned had ever heard.

Pierre and his band played well into the night. Ned assumed each new song was the last, but to his delight, he continued to be wrong. This was one of the best nights he’d had since arriving in Wexlin. He loved watching Pierre perform. Ned began to wonder why he was even still working on a pirate ship with Norbert and Tino. He could be playing his lute in front of all the Kings in The Land.

After playing for hours, Pierre finally held up his paw to silence the crowd one last time.

“We’re going to play one last song.” Pierre said, and before he could say it, someone from the crowd yelled it out. “That’s right.” He said pointing at that otter. “We’re going play ‘Master of the Sea’.” The crowd cheered the familiar title.

In more of a talkative voice than most of the other songs, Pierre began to sing as the band kept rhythm softly behind him.

This is a tale, of an otter so brave,

a place with the treasures of the deep.

From ships he buried, under his waves

Your gold is now Go-ran’s to keep!

The band began to hoot and holler as the horns blew one or two notes, encouraging Pierre on.

The blackfish are his eyes and his keepers

They’re the ones to notify those he sires

They tell him of the riches of sunken ships

all to be brought back to his massive island of fire!

Half the band started singing the chorus while the other half, the horn section, started playing to the rhythm

.

‘Go-ran, Go-ran, master of the sea!

(Go-ran, Go-ran) Pay him homage and he’ll let you be!

Fears only one but you would too

It’s Bo-jana the bear!

Bo-jana the bear!

Black and Brown, truly wise and fair!

Strong and Powerful and that’s just her glare!

Bojana the bear is coming for you

And there is nothing Go-ran can do!

Pierre began to quiet the crowd as the horns abruptly cut out after the chorus. The drums and the strings kept a soft beat as Pierre began to sing even quieter.

When Bojana saved us from external darkness

That bear had watched it all,

She saw mighty empires finally fall

So she took the magic that destroyed us,

She took that magic and tossed into the sea

Still the greatest sacrifice was made by she.

She removed her barbute, the source of all her power

And every bear will argue, this was perhaps her finest hour.

There were no laws, to find the right paws.

So she threw it in the river!

Again the entire band starting to hoot and holler and again began to help sing the chorus while the other half of the horn section started up again.

‘Go-ran, Go-ran, master of the sea!

(Go-ran, Go-ran) Pay him homage and he’ll let you be!

Fears only one but you would too

It’s Bo-jana the bear

Bo-jana the bear!

Black and Brown, truly wise and fair!

Strong and Powerful and that’s just her glare!

Bo-jana the bear is coming for you

And there is nothing Go-ran can do!

The band slowed down again, playing a beat as a backdrop to Pierre’s voice.

I wish that was the end of this tale.

But that Otter was tricky down to his core.

He sent those blackfish out on a hunt

To find the barbute the bear had wore.

There was no resistance on any front

Now that barbute is on the Otter’s rocky ocean floor!

The band began to hoot and holler as the horns started up. The entire crowd of otters and other creatures began to sing along to final chorus. Ned even saw a handful of otters were up on the table, dancing along to the music.

Go-ran, Go-ran, master of the sea

(Go-ran, Go-ran) Pay him homage and he’ll let you be!

The otter fears no one.

Bo-jana the bear, her power is done.

Bojana the bear,

Black and brown, truly wise and fair.

Strong and power and that was just her glare.

Bo-jana the bear is coming for you

But there is nothing she can do!

There is nothing that bear can do!

The crowd erupted into cheers as Pierre waved to all the creatures there, thanking them for their participation. The horn sections began to leave, playing a soft tune as they exited the building. Soon it was just Pierre on stage with his trusty lute. Pierre then began to sing ever so softly and the crowd whistled or hooted to what he was singing.

Ned couldn’t understand what he was singing. He had been singing in basic otter. To Ned it sounded like a bunch of little barks and whistling. The bear wasn’t supposed to know what he was singing nor could he ever hope to replicate the otter language with his bear tongue. The otters kept their own language as did all the creatures of The Land. Those who were lucky enough to be born close to towns or cities, were taught the common tongue that all creatures were able to speak and understand.

The bear could see that Amina and Jaja didn’t understand it either as they diverted their attention back to the bear.

“This is his final song,” Jaja said putting another piece of fish in his mouth. “It’s about this really ugly otteress but if the otter wasn’t uglier, he would be able to call on her.”

“It’s a silly song.” Amina said. “They all seem to know and love it. Let’s get out of here and beat the crowd.”

She pushed herself away from the table and stood up. Felix immediately followed her not wanting to get lost in a crowd of otters. Jaja shoved a couple pieces of fish in his mouth before he fell in line as well. The beaver Natty sighed and unwillingly got up from the table to follow the three of them out. Ned did not want to leave. He felt as though he had barely gotten a chance to eat. He shoveled some filets into his mouth and picked up as much shellfish as he could carry before following the group out the door.