The midday sun beat down on the town square, coloring the dirt a dark brown as vermin gathered to the slave auction. There was one beast in the square, however, that was not even close to the platform that the "merchandise" was on.
Not yet, anyway.
The squirrel stood in the bell tower in the rear of the square. He wore a white robe that covered him to halfway down his legs, made of light but strong cloth to avoid hampering movement. The robe was also hooded, and the squirrel, despite the heat, had the hood up. His tail, which like the rest of his body was still as stone except for where the wind rustled it, stuck up over his head. The squirrel pawed a knife.
Behind him, a magpie alighted on the other side of the bell, watching the squirrel with curiosity. It watched him take a small, white feather from a pouch on his waist, and then clench it in his teeth.
Below the two, the rat bellringer tolled out midday.
The bell swung into the magpie's view.
When the bell swung back, the squirrel was gone. Startled, the magpie flew off, cawing raucously.
The squirrel was already on the ground, gently pushing vermin aside. As much as he wanted to, he could not free the slaves. They wouldn't get out of the settlement. Only two guards and the armed auctioneer, all so easily dealt with…
They'd all be dead by the time his mission was done.
The squirrel fingered inside his robe and drew forth a throwing knife, hiding it under his armpit, still holding it. The auctioneer was just beginning the bidding. "Now, mates, here we have a strong otter from the Western Sea. 'E's big, strong, smart, and ideal for headbeast work. 'E's obedient, too." The stoat turned to the otter. "Kneel, riverdog."
The otter, clearly not enjoying the spectacle, remained standing. The stoat kicked him in the stomach, bringing him down. "I said kneel, wretch!" He turned back to the bidders. "See? Obedient."
There was widespread laughter as the otter vomited from the blow. The squirrel was almost at the stairs now. His other paw was at a dirk that was sheathed within two belt loops on his right side.
He reached the stairs.
By the time he had, the guards had seen the throwing knife. The closest one ran at him, only to jerk and fall forward off of the platform as the knife caught him in the throat. As the other charged, the squirrel drew the dirk and clashed it against the spear's haft, throwing it off course. He brought the dirk back across the rat's throat, then reached the top of the stairs. He leapt into the air and seemed to hang there for a moment, time slowing down as the stoat attempted to draw his sword.
Too late. The squirrel landed on him, driving the knife blade that was protruding from the gauntlet above his paw deep into the stoat's throat.
The squirrel ran as other guards around the square rushed forward. He quickly climbed a ladder set next to a building and reached the roof. As vermin began to climb it he kicked the ladder away and started running along roofs, jumping over gaps.
Vermin pursued him from the streets, all the way to the small bay that lay on the beach of the village. They finally cornered him on a dock that was almost completely covered by small, white seabirds. As the squirrel stopped at the end of the dock without disturbing a single bird, he turned and watched the vermin try to storm across the docks.
The birds, frightened, took off in a spray of white.
When they cleared, the guards stared in shock at the spot where the squirrel had been. He had disappeared, right under their noses!
The squirrel hid under a thin coating of white sand, his robe blending in with the beach around him. The guards searched the piers, not bothering to widen the search. Finally, they gave up and left.
The squirrel stood up as they disappeared, then calmly walked over to a rocky peninsula. A small skiff awaited him there, flying a white flag with a curious black emblem on it. Other creatures, robed similarly to the assassin, went about their business. The ship made its way out of the bay and down the shore, south.
Meanwhile, back at the platform, the otter reached over to the body of the auctioneer. The attacker, who had seemed to appear out of nowhere, had left something. Picking it up, he examined it, showing it to the other slaves. It was a small white feather, now stained red with the auctioneer's blood.
There was also a note tied to it. The otter unfolded the tiny scrap of parchment.
A squirrel looked over the otter's shoulder as the guards returned to the square to check on the slaves. "What does it say?"
The otter whispered the words. Though short, to a slave they carried much weight. "You will be free soon, whether by our doing or another's."
Rayn the squirrel assassin looked around at the various other creatures that were on the boat. Finally letting his hood fall, he shook his head to clear it of sand and the sweat that had broken out on his face. An otter dressed in an outfit similar to Rayn's threw him a rag. "You're a Master Assassin and you're sweating?"
Rayn rolled the rag up into a small whip and snapped it at the otter's tail. "Quiet, you. You weren't the one that had to run through the village and hide in sand for the entire day."
The otter smiled and clapped Rayn on the shoulder. "Good to see you safe, Rayn."
Rayn did the same. "Nice to see you didn't abandon me, Tiber." He looked around. "Where are we heading? This isn't the way back to the village."
"I thought that we'd make a detour. Redwall Abbey."
Rayn smiled. "I think I'd be happy to make that detour."
Tiber's smile widened. "I thought you would."
***
The late evening sun beat down on Redwall Abbey, warming the backs of the creatures that went about their day-ending business within its walls. One particular creature, Abbess Songbreeze, walked leisurely over to the pond before sitting on top of the beached boat and dabbing her footpaws in the water. A shout made her look up.
"Watch out, Mother Abbess!"
Song threw up her arms and yelped as she was splashed with cold water. The young squirrel standing on the shore a few feet away from her grinned. "Sorry, Song. I guess my aim wasn't very good."
"Not very good?" Song asked, getting up. "We'll see who's not very good!" Watching Dann's face fall, she giggled. "Right after you take a bath!" she added, splashing her friend with water. Dannflor ducked and a fight erupted, waves of water flying through the air to soak both of the young squirrels to the skin.
Across the lawns on the main steps, Janglur Swifteye shook his head and smiled. "Look at that. Youth in its prime."
Rusvul Reguba nodded. "Aye. I'd tell Dann to quit fooling about, but you're only young for so long."
The bells began to ring. Song's short cry of dismay made her pretty voice sound as harsh as a raven's call. She turned to glare at Dann. "This is your fault! What will the rest of the Abbey say when they see their Abbess walking in soaking wet?"
Dann shrugged. "Dunno. That's why I'm not Abbot!" He ran off towards the Abbey, cackling madly. Song shook her paw after him and was about to chase him down when Rimrose, her mother, came down from the gatehouse and draped a towel over her shoulders.
The squirrelwife made a clicking noise with her teeth as she dried her daughter off. "Don't worry, Song. He was only teasing."
There was an insistent knocking at the main gate. Skipper vaulted down the gatehouse stairs, meeting Janglur and Rusvul at the gate. Rimrose, having dried her daughter as best as she could, pushed Song onward. "Go on! We'll handle the visitors. They can't eat until you say grace!" Song ran off and into the Abbey, hearing muffled voices and the clanking of metal as she entered. Entering the Great Hall, Dann met her at the door, shuffling his feet sheepishly. "Sorry about getting you wet, Song. It was a bit of fun, that's all."
Song hugged her friend closely. "It's okay, Dann."
They both walked to the table at the front of the hall, talking to each other. As they approached, the squirrel Friar Butty and Cregga Badgermum whispered to each other.
"I'm certain that those two will grow up and marry some day."
"We'll just have to see, Butty. Don't be impatient."
As Song and Dannflor finally took their places, Song stood and tapped the table with a spoon. After saying grace, the kitchen doors opened, carts pushed by kitchen helpers under Butty's watchful eye moving among the diners, doling out food.
Then all activity ceased as the doors opened. Song stood up to look at the late arrivals. In the doorway stood at least twenty figures in robes of varying colors. One, in white, was a squirrel. All of their robes were hooded, their faces obscured. Song, Dann, Butty, and Cregga rose from the table and rose to meet them as the figures entered the room, looking around in curiosity. Song smiled her best at them. "Welcome to Redwall, my friends. May I ask what your names are?"
The leader's mouth, which was the only part of the face that Song could see, cracked in a smile. The squirrel took off his hood, revealing a coat of fur that was colored a beautiful dark red. The squirrel's brown eyes shone in the candlelight and seemed to miss nothing. "Thank you for the welcome, ma'am. My name is Rayn, and these are my colleagues. They would prefer not to give their names."
Song looked at the various bulges in their clothing. "You have no need to bring weapons in here. We pride ourselves on honesty at Redwall."
The squirrel briefly closed his observant eyes. "So, this is Redwall," he whispered. "Just as I thought it would look." He motioned and Tiber strode up and leaned into listen to his leader whisper into his ear. "Make sure that our weapons are cared for. I don't want anything missing when we leave." Tiber nodded and the group began to open their robes and take out various weapons, such as throwing knives, a long and a short sword, and various other things. Then they all began to take off the leather gauntlets that they had on their right paws.
Song tilted her head at this, puzzled. "Why do you need to take those off?"
The squirrel clenched his paw in answer, and a blade about the length of Song's paw ejected from it. He replaced the blade, then handed it to Tiber and the two green-robed creatures that he had picked to help. The trio exited the room briefly, then reentered. Song gestured to the meal around them. "Please. Sit and eat. You won't cause a shortage."
Rayn smiled again. Dann shuddered. "Thank you." he leaned closer to her. "I would like to speak to you after dinner, if you have the time."
Song nodded hesitantly. Rayn turned and whispered something to the others. They dispersed, taking vacant spaces of several seats and whispering among themselves. Rayn watched them all sit down, and only when they had all been seated did he go to sit himself.
Song looked after him, then beckoned Janglur and Rusvul to her. As the warriors approached, she motioned to the figures that had so suddenly appeared. "Who do you think they are? And why are they here?"
Janglur shrugged. "I don't know, Song. And I have an inkling that we're about to find ourselves in a right mess."
Try to guess where I based the assassins from. I dare you. R and R anyway! This is another long one, so enjoy!