Lord Rocketh of Salamandastron stood in the armory of his mountain
fortress. In his paws he grasped a magnificent blade, a sword that even a
badger had to hold double-pawed. Its edge was sharper than most swords,
and aside from the weapons held in Salamandastron's armory, he doubted he
could find a better blade. Weapons that had been forged by Badger Lords
had a certain quality to them that any common weapon could not hope to
possess. This blade was one of them, and to Lord Rocketh's mind and heart,
it fit into his paws almost as if it had been made for him. A pity, then,
that it hadn't been made by him.
Unlike most of the Badger Lords that had ruled Salamandastron before him, Lord Rocketh was a mediocre weaponsmith at best. Try as he might, he could not produce a single weapon that lived up to those of the badgers that had worked in Salamandastron's forge generations before him. The weapons that he could forge were just not good enough in his eyes, and the Long Patrol was currently using weapons and armor that had been kept in the storerooms for generations. Even Lord Rocketh used a weapon that wasn't his, by right, although the weapon's maker had forged it specifically for him.
"Lord Sunforge," Rocketh muttered, looking at the magnificent blade that his direct predecessor had forged for him in the days before the Stormrat War. "Why did you make this blade for me, of all beasts? I don't deserve it... I didn't even forge it myself. And now, with the Stormrats back, I'm going to need a weapon. But I should have my own weapon, made with my own paws, not something you labored to create."
The Badger Lord held the sword out in front of him, gripping it tightly with his immense paws. He gave it a few practice swings, and was surprised at how well he was able to swing it. It moved as if it were an extension of his arm, and if Rocketh really strained his mind, he could imagine feeling the sword, from the tip of its blade to the pommel. I don't deserve this blade, he though as he swung it out in front of him. He marveled at how smoothly it cut through the air, and how easy it fit his grip. This is not my blade, though Lord Rocketh, even as he realized how perfectly it fit him.
"Um, sire," came a voice from behind Rocketh. Recognizing the voice of Colonel Jeffrey, one of his most trusted hares, Lord Rocketh lowered the sword he had been holding slowly, and with a touch of regret. After carefully leaning it against a suit of armor, he turned to face the colonel.
"Yes, Jeffrey? Is there something you need?" asked the Badger Lord.
"There is, sah," said the colonel, nodding his head and letting his long ears bob about. "Merlin has returned from his journey. He reports that the Stormrat navy has dropped anchor in the same position they did five seasons ago. He caught a glimpse of the horde that the army brought across the sea, and says that although their numbers are less than the horde that we fought in the Stormrat War, it is larger than the Long Patrol. We better hope we get help from the Redwallers, wot?"
"Yes. I don't expect them to refuse my request, but if they do, we must be prepared to fight to the last even without their help. If the Stormrats were to win this time around, there's no telling what they'll do. Not only did the Long Patrol and the woodlanders fight them back, you also followed them to their navy and tried to kill of every one of their kind. This last Stormrat won't only have dreams of conquest. He will want to avenge his family. Perhaps he is even more desperate than we are." Lord Rocketh bared his teeth. "Desperation, I think, is what bought you a victory the last time. Our enemy's drive for vengeance may be our undoing."
"With respect, sire, those vermin aren't the only ones who want to avenge lost friends and loved 'uns. In the first battle of the Stormrat War, I lost one o' my sons to those abominations. And when they placed Salamandastron under siege, I went with Lord Sunforge to lead a hit and run attack on their camp. I saw one of those monstrous rats impale him on a spear with my own eyes! And there was nothin', nothin' at all that I could do other than retreat. Mark my words, there are Long Patrol hares and goodbeasts throughout Mossflower who would be itching for a taste of vengeance."
"I know that," said the Badger Lord. "I feel the loss of Lord Sunforge myself, though I have never met him face to face. But I think it was him who gave me the urge to leave my home in the north and come down to Salamandastron. I think his spirit chose me to be his successor and guided me to the mountain. But he isn't with me anymore, I'm afraid. And just when we could have used his experience most..."
"You may not have lived here for much longer than four seasons, sire, but you are still the Badger Lord of Salamandastron. Badgers are some of th' most fierce warriors alive, and even though you didn't fight against the Stormrats, I'm confident that you can live up to Lord Sunforge." Colonel Jeffrey gestured toward the doorway of the armory. "Merlin is waitin' just outside. Do you want to talk to him yourself?"
Rocketh nodded. "I will. Thank you colonel." The hare turned around and walked out of the armory, and walked off through the tunnels of Salamandastron. The badger followed Jeffrey out of the armory, but instead of following him along Salamandastron's tunnels, he turned toward a hare who was waiting by the door.
"Merlin, is it?" said Lord Rocketh as he looked at the hare. Unlike Colonel Jeffrey, Merlin was a young hare, and his blue eyes shined with youthful excitement. It seemed that not even his sight of the vermin army had diminished his enthusiasm and willingness to serve his Lord. "Colonel Joffrey tells me that you've returned from your mission to scope out the Stormrat camp. He told me what you saw, but I'd rather hear it from your own tongue. Speak."
Unlike many hares of his age and experience, Merlin spoke confidently and smoothly. "Well, sire, I proceeded south down the coast as you instructed me to. After two days' worth of runnin', I came across the ships. I saw 'em from a distance, o' course, and I don't believe I was spotted. Though I couldn't pick out individuals from my position, I judge that there are about four hundred vermin campin' south of 'ere. I'm estimatin' that they could be here in three an' a half days, at a standard pace. O' course, after Sergeant Polwyn and some o' his hares managed to escape their ambush, I don't think that the vermin will waste any time. They know we know they're comin', and it would take some bally nerve to wait there on the beach an' see how many hares we can send against 'em."
"We don't have enough hares to send any sort of assault against them. If we could spare the numbers, believe me, I'd send a group of Long Patrol hares to harass the horde as they move north. But with only two hundred hares to defend this mountain, I dare not send away any defenders from the battle that will come."
"I don't mean to doubt you, sire, but won't inactivity just make the vermin leader more confident? If you were to send twoscore fighting hares to harass the horde as it marched, they would most likely think that we could spare the troops. It would make them more cautious with any assault on our stronghold, and it would probably stall their assault long enough to for some sort of assistance to arrive." Merlin's ears drooped as a discouraging thought occurred to him. "We're not gonna be alone in this war, are we, sire? And how d'you know that the vermin horde will move north from their landin' spot? What's stoppin' them from heading east, instead o' charging directly toward our position of power?"
"Nothing is stopping them from marching east," answered Rocketh. "However, as you said, the vermin know that we know of their presence. I'm assuming that they'll march directly for Salamandastron, instead of making us track them down. After all, if we did go after them, they would have no way of knowing when or where we would choose to engage them. Better to know where the fight will be than to have it occur in some random location in Mossflower." The Badger Lord paused. "However, you were right about sending a group of hares to harass the vermin. Twoscore sounds like a good number to me. You will accompany the group as a runner, and report directly to Salamandastron if the vermin divert at all from the course I predict they'll take. Inform Sergeant Polwyn that I would like to meet him here at the armory."
Merlin nodded his understanding. "But, sire... we won't be fighting alone, will we? In the last war, Redwall, the Guosim, an' the woodlanders of Mossflower helped us t' drive back the Stormrats. Will they be with us this time?"
At that moment, Lord Rocketh was overcome by an urge to lie to the young patroller, and assure him that all the might of Redwall, the Guosim, and Mossflower County would be behind them when they fought the Stormrats. But Merlin was not a leveret, and Rocketh knew that he had the right to know the truth. "I sent Candice to deliver my plea for help to Redwall's Abbess. I believe that they will choose to assist us, but there's always the chance that the Redwallers have grown weary of war and will choose not to help us. As for the Guosim, I do not know where they are and cannot spare the hares I would need to track them down. And there are too much small dwellings through Mossflower Country to deliver a message to every one of them. I'm afraid that the only help we'll have is from Redwall Abbey, and that's if they decide to go to war."
"I understand, sire," said Merlin. "But y'know... if the Redwallers decide not t' help us, then there's no way short of a miracle that we'll manage to win this war. And even with the might of Redwall fightin' at our side, we still might not be able to win. Seems like a hopeless situation, wot?"
"No," answered Lord Rocketh. "Not hopeless. It may seem difficult, but there is a way to win. But nothing is certain." After a few moments of brooding silence, the Badger Lord waved his paw. "Go get Sergeant Polwyn. Tell him to take his time."
Merlin turned and dashed away, leaving only a murmur of understanding for his Lord. Rocketh turned and stepped back inside the armory. After a few moments of indecision, the badger picked up the sword that Lord Sunforge had made for him, and gazed at it with hard eyes. Just as he had before, he gave the sword a few practice swings. It would be easy to wear this on my back, thought Rocketh. Without quite knowing why, Lord Rocketh abandoned his pride and accepted the fine sword that Lord Sunforge had made him as his own.
~~~
Luc and Ellen made their way through Mossflower Wood, keeping their senses alert for any sight, sound, or smell that would indicate the presence of Kiran or his otter friends. So far, they had managed to escape the harassment of any otter or vermin, and Luc was already relaxed and was beginning to enjoy herself. Ellen, on the other paw, clutched tightly at her staff and snapped at Luc whenever he made an attempt at casual conversation. After his fourth attempt to lighten Ellen up and having no luck, the squirrel had kept silent.
Mossflower was still damp from the storm that had struck the previous night. Wet grass squished under Luc's feet as he walked, and although most of the moisture had evaporate from the leaves above him, an occasional dewdrop still managed to find its way down to the ground. The sun shone brightly, and kept Luc warm even through the cover of the treetops. The only thing about the walk that made it seem less relaxing than it could have been was Ellen.
"There!" whispered the squirrelmaid to Luc, whipping around and pointing her staff toward the bushes off the path. "I heard something there!" Luc didn't take Ellen to seriously, as she had already called two false alarms this far into the walk, but he still stepped forward and raised his staff toward the bushes. After waiting for about half a minute to see if there was any movement in the bushes, Luc relaxed.
"There's nothing in there," Luc said, tensing as he uttered the words. He had said the same thing when Ellen had pointed out the previous false alarms to him. Both times, she had whacked him in the legs with her staff.
This time, though, she merely sighed and shook her head. "I guess I'm getting a bit jumpy about this. I might have even been wrong about the otters coming out here ahead of me, though I'd certainly believe it of them. And sorry about snapping at you, Luc. I think I'll just try to enjoy myself." Ellen ran ahead of Luc, carrying her herb gathering basket in one paw and clutching her staff tightly in the other. Luc was puzzled by Ellen's abrupt change of mood, but he didn't object. Allowing himself a small smile, he hurried after her.
Less than ten minutes later, Ellen had gathered all the herbs she'd set out to find. Her basket was perched on a rock, and she and Luc were leaned back against a tree. For Luc, the walk had taken an abrupt turn for the better once Ellen lost her jumpiness. He now let himself relax fully, now that he didn't have to worry about being whacked in the legs with Ellen's staff. The squirrelmaid, too, had relaxed as well, if not as fully as Luc had. Even though she sat calmly with her back to the tree, she let her ears pick up any sound that she could make out and gazed carefully at the woodlands around her. Her staff was close at paw, even though she didn't think she'd need it.
"I wonder how Andrew is doing," said Luc quietly as he closed his eyes and let his mind wander. "I doubt the storm affected him too much, but he might've had to stop early once the rain started falling. And I wonder what that he does with that mouse Hake. Somehow, he teaches Luc far better than Cain or Gormin or my father could ever hope to teach. I wonder why Hake never became Redwall's Champion, or fought in the Stormrat War?"
"Maybe he's a peaceful beast," answered Ellen. "He might be good at wielding a weapon, but he could hate war. Maybe he doesn't want to lose anyone in battle like Andrew lost his mother. But then, he's a hermit. What could he have to lose?"
"I don't know. But Andrew seems to be turning into a better warrior than either of us. Maybe someday, he'll be the next Abbey Champion. Even though the Stormrats are good and gone, there are still plenty of vermin in Mossflower that he would need to defend the Abbey from." Luc shifted his legs, and felt his dagger rub up against his footpaws. "I wonder about him, sometimes. He seems older than he is. A lot like Gormin, except even more quiet. Maybe that's how it always is with beasts destined to be Champions?"
"Yeah, there is something strange about him," said Ellen. "But I don't mind. He's been like that as far back as I can remember. Even before his mother died. I just don't understand him, sometimes."
"There are many beasts I don't understand," said Luc. "Andrew's just one of them. Maybe I'm just not wise enough to figure everybody out." Luc stood. "We should probably start going back to the Abbey. I don't think it's smart to stay in one part of Mossflower for too long, even if the area is supposed to be safe. But can we take our time in getting back to Redwall? I'm just starting to relax, and I want to stay away from chores for a bit longer."
Ellen smiled, and also got to her feet. "Yes, we should take our time. No reason to hurry back when the weather is so nice and welcoming."
"I bet Andrew was thinking something like that when he left Redwall yesterday," Luc joked. "Who knows when the weather could tu-."
Luc was cut off by a furry paw clamping over his mouth. He reached up his own paws to try to pry it away and began to struggle, but the beast that had caught him was strong and did not seem as if it wanted to let Luc go.
"Stop struggling," hissed the voice of the beast who caught him. Luc was both relieved and annoyed to hear the voice of Kiran. He let his body go limp and allowed the otter to drag him into the bushes on the side of the path that he and Ellen had been walking. He saw Ellen being dragged into the bushes by one of Kiran's friends, but she was putting up more of a fight. The otter snorted disgustedly, and with one strong pull of his arms, brought Ellen into the bushes with them.
"Hush already!" hissed the otter, who Luc recognized as being a Redwaller named Retherin. "Shut up unless you want the vermin to get you!"
Ellen lifted up her paws and removed Retherin's paws from her mouth. "Vermin?" she said quietly, glaring at Kiran and Retherin. "Is this some sort of joke? This is supposed to be a safe place. An area free of vermin. Do you expect me to believe-."
Retherin once again clamped his paw over Ellen's mouth, and she didn't even bother to struggle as she saw three ferrets enter the clearing. Each of them bore a short dagger, but they would have looked fearsome even without the weapons. Luc saw his friend shudder with revulsion. It was the first time Ellen had seen a vermin, and the first time he had, as well. In truth, they didn't look very different from a Redwaller, but the way in which they moved struck a sort of fear into Luc's heart. Their ripped clothing also added to the disgust he felt for them, and the blood that stained one of the ferret's paws almost drove Luc into a panic. Surely Kiran had set out with more than one other otter, whatever he planned to do. But that would mean that those monsters had killed a Redwaller.
"Where did them other otters go?" asked one of the ferrets in a rough voice. "We slain two of 'em, but that'll only give us enough food for a couple days. If we could get the rest o' them, we'd have at least enough meat t' last us for ten days. They're as big as we're, but I don't think they've ever fought before. We could get them without much of a fight."
Another one of the ferrets sniggered. "I don't think they've even seen a ferrit before, m' brothers! Might be some tough lookin' beasts, but they're too green to fight us."
They're going to eat otters...? The initial horror that had overcome Luc as he had heard them say this was erased from his mind by a flash of hatred as he watched the ferrets move slowly along the path, joking and laughing about their prey. "We can take 'em," the squirrel whispered, releasing his staff and working the dagger he carried out of his boot. "We know how to fight."
"Are you crazy, mate?" hissed Kiran. "We'll get slaughtered, just like Stranwin and Githe."
"Did ye hear somethin'," asked one of the ferrets. Squirrel and otter fell silent immediately. The vermin gazed around the woods, peering into each tree. Luc was sure he could feel their gaze as it passed over him, but by some miracle or another, they didn't see him. "Ah. I must've been dreamin'."
"Hey. The tracks get small'r 'round here," said one ferret, pointing down. "Looks like other beasts. And it seems like the otters took to the bushes..."
Luc didn't know what sort of wordless signal passed between the beasts huddled in the bushes, but almost as one, the two otters charged forward, followed closely by Ellen, who held her spear out in front of her as both a shield and a weapon. Luc was a moment behind them, having taken the time to work the dagger out of his boot and into his paw.
"Redwall!" howled Kiran in a voice that was a mixture of agony and rage. The otter lunged at one of the ferrets, sweeping the vermin's footpaws out from under him. The ferret raised the dagger he held in a feeble attempt to defend himself, but the enraged otter ripped the weapon from the ferret's grasp and tossed it aside. With an insane look on his face, Kiran closed his paws around the throat of the ferret and began to slowly throttle the beast.
Retherin was also fighting a ferret, but he wasn't doing as well as Kiran was. The ferret that was fighting Retherin tried to get in close to the otter and slash at him with his dagger, but the otter swiped his paws forward at the ferret and sent him dodging backward, trying to keep out of the beast's reach. Retherin dodged the ferret's blows in a similar manner, and it seemed that neither of them were making any progress against the other.
The ferret Ellen was fighting circled the squirrelmaid, dodging away from her as she lashed out at him with her staff. But even though her blows didn't hurt the ferret, they prevented him from getting close enough to swipe at her with his dagger.
Luc caught the ferret as it circled Ellen. Silently and quickly, he plunged the blade of his dagger into the back of the ferret's neck. With a hideous gurgle, the vermin fell to the ground, taking Luc's dagger with it. The young squirrel leaped backward, staring in shock at what he had just done.
Ellen was quick to come to Retherin's aid when she saw that he wasn't getting anywhere on his own. Together, the squirrel and otter managed to back the ferret up towards a tree. When he saw that he was outnumbered, with an otter and a squirrel up against him and Kiran rising from the limp body of the ferret he had killed, the ferret turned the other way and ran.
Instead of giving pursuit, Kiran slumped to the ground and stared at the body of the ferret he killed. Ellen and Retherin gazed in horror at the scene of death their wrath had caused, and Luc sank to his knees and wept. Am I a murderer, he though, seeing the ferret's blood staining the dagger in its neck. Luc's dagger. He was the one responsible for the ferret's death. What have I done? he thought frantically. Then he buried his face in his paws and wept.
Unlike most of the Badger Lords that had ruled Salamandastron before him, Lord Rocketh was a mediocre weaponsmith at best. Try as he might, he could not produce a single weapon that lived up to those of the badgers that had worked in Salamandastron's forge generations before him. The weapons that he could forge were just not good enough in his eyes, and the Long Patrol was currently using weapons and armor that had been kept in the storerooms for generations. Even Lord Rocketh used a weapon that wasn't his, by right, although the weapon's maker had forged it specifically for him.
"Lord Sunforge," Rocketh muttered, looking at the magnificent blade that his direct predecessor had forged for him in the days before the Stormrat War. "Why did you make this blade for me, of all beasts? I don't deserve it... I didn't even forge it myself. And now, with the Stormrats back, I'm going to need a weapon. But I should have my own weapon, made with my own paws, not something you labored to create."
The Badger Lord held the sword out in front of him, gripping it tightly with his immense paws. He gave it a few practice swings, and was surprised at how well he was able to swing it. It moved as if it were an extension of his arm, and if Rocketh really strained his mind, he could imagine feeling the sword, from the tip of its blade to the pommel. I don't deserve this blade, he though as he swung it out in front of him. He marveled at how smoothly it cut through the air, and how easy it fit his grip. This is not my blade, though Lord Rocketh, even as he realized how perfectly it fit him.
"Um, sire," came a voice from behind Rocketh. Recognizing the voice of Colonel Jeffrey, one of his most trusted hares, Lord Rocketh lowered the sword he had been holding slowly, and with a touch of regret. After carefully leaning it against a suit of armor, he turned to face the colonel.
"Yes, Jeffrey? Is there something you need?" asked the Badger Lord.
"There is, sah," said the colonel, nodding his head and letting his long ears bob about. "Merlin has returned from his journey. He reports that the Stormrat navy has dropped anchor in the same position they did five seasons ago. He caught a glimpse of the horde that the army brought across the sea, and says that although their numbers are less than the horde that we fought in the Stormrat War, it is larger than the Long Patrol. We better hope we get help from the Redwallers, wot?"
"Yes. I don't expect them to refuse my request, but if they do, we must be prepared to fight to the last even without their help. If the Stormrats were to win this time around, there's no telling what they'll do. Not only did the Long Patrol and the woodlanders fight them back, you also followed them to their navy and tried to kill of every one of their kind. This last Stormrat won't only have dreams of conquest. He will want to avenge his family. Perhaps he is even more desperate than we are." Lord Rocketh bared his teeth. "Desperation, I think, is what bought you a victory the last time. Our enemy's drive for vengeance may be our undoing."
"With respect, sire, those vermin aren't the only ones who want to avenge lost friends and loved 'uns. In the first battle of the Stormrat War, I lost one o' my sons to those abominations. And when they placed Salamandastron under siege, I went with Lord Sunforge to lead a hit and run attack on their camp. I saw one of those monstrous rats impale him on a spear with my own eyes! And there was nothin', nothin' at all that I could do other than retreat. Mark my words, there are Long Patrol hares and goodbeasts throughout Mossflower who would be itching for a taste of vengeance."
"I know that," said the Badger Lord. "I feel the loss of Lord Sunforge myself, though I have never met him face to face. But I think it was him who gave me the urge to leave my home in the north and come down to Salamandastron. I think his spirit chose me to be his successor and guided me to the mountain. But he isn't with me anymore, I'm afraid. And just when we could have used his experience most..."
"You may not have lived here for much longer than four seasons, sire, but you are still the Badger Lord of Salamandastron. Badgers are some of th' most fierce warriors alive, and even though you didn't fight against the Stormrats, I'm confident that you can live up to Lord Sunforge." Colonel Jeffrey gestured toward the doorway of the armory. "Merlin is waitin' just outside. Do you want to talk to him yourself?"
Rocketh nodded. "I will. Thank you colonel." The hare turned around and walked out of the armory, and walked off through the tunnels of Salamandastron. The badger followed Jeffrey out of the armory, but instead of following him along Salamandastron's tunnels, he turned toward a hare who was waiting by the door.
"Merlin, is it?" said Lord Rocketh as he looked at the hare. Unlike Colonel Jeffrey, Merlin was a young hare, and his blue eyes shined with youthful excitement. It seemed that not even his sight of the vermin army had diminished his enthusiasm and willingness to serve his Lord. "Colonel Joffrey tells me that you've returned from your mission to scope out the Stormrat camp. He told me what you saw, but I'd rather hear it from your own tongue. Speak."
Unlike many hares of his age and experience, Merlin spoke confidently and smoothly. "Well, sire, I proceeded south down the coast as you instructed me to. After two days' worth of runnin', I came across the ships. I saw 'em from a distance, o' course, and I don't believe I was spotted. Though I couldn't pick out individuals from my position, I judge that there are about four hundred vermin campin' south of 'ere. I'm estimatin' that they could be here in three an' a half days, at a standard pace. O' course, after Sergeant Polwyn and some o' his hares managed to escape their ambush, I don't think that the vermin will waste any time. They know we know they're comin', and it would take some bally nerve to wait there on the beach an' see how many hares we can send against 'em."
"We don't have enough hares to send any sort of assault against them. If we could spare the numbers, believe me, I'd send a group of Long Patrol hares to harass the horde as they move north. But with only two hundred hares to defend this mountain, I dare not send away any defenders from the battle that will come."
"I don't mean to doubt you, sire, but won't inactivity just make the vermin leader more confident? If you were to send twoscore fighting hares to harass the horde as it marched, they would most likely think that we could spare the troops. It would make them more cautious with any assault on our stronghold, and it would probably stall their assault long enough to for some sort of assistance to arrive." Merlin's ears drooped as a discouraging thought occurred to him. "We're not gonna be alone in this war, are we, sire? And how d'you know that the vermin horde will move north from their landin' spot? What's stoppin' them from heading east, instead o' charging directly toward our position of power?"
"Nothing is stopping them from marching east," answered Rocketh. "However, as you said, the vermin know that we know of their presence. I'm assuming that they'll march directly for Salamandastron, instead of making us track them down. After all, if we did go after them, they would have no way of knowing when or where we would choose to engage them. Better to know where the fight will be than to have it occur in some random location in Mossflower." The Badger Lord paused. "However, you were right about sending a group of hares to harass the vermin. Twoscore sounds like a good number to me. You will accompany the group as a runner, and report directly to Salamandastron if the vermin divert at all from the course I predict they'll take. Inform Sergeant Polwyn that I would like to meet him here at the armory."
Merlin nodded his understanding. "But, sire... we won't be fighting alone, will we? In the last war, Redwall, the Guosim, an' the woodlanders of Mossflower helped us t' drive back the Stormrats. Will they be with us this time?"
At that moment, Lord Rocketh was overcome by an urge to lie to the young patroller, and assure him that all the might of Redwall, the Guosim, and Mossflower County would be behind them when they fought the Stormrats. But Merlin was not a leveret, and Rocketh knew that he had the right to know the truth. "I sent Candice to deliver my plea for help to Redwall's Abbess. I believe that they will choose to assist us, but there's always the chance that the Redwallers have grown weary of war and will choose not to help us. As for the Guosim, I do not know where they are and cannot spare the hares I would need to track them down. And there are too much small dwellings through Mossflower Country to deliver a message to every one of them. I'm afraid that the only help we'll have is from Redwall Abbey, and that's if they decide to go to war."
"I understand, sire," said Merlin. "But y'know... if the Redwallers decide not t' help us, then there's no way short of a miracle that we'll manage to win this war. And even with the might of Redwall fightin' at our side, we still might not be able to win. Seems like a hopeless situation, wot?"
"No," answered Lord Rocketh. "Not hopeless. It may seem difficult, but there is a way to win. But nothing is certain." After a few moments of brooding silence, the Badger Lord waved his paw. "Go get Sergeant Polwyn. Tell him to take his time."
Merlin turned and dashed away, leaving only a murmur of understanding for his Lord. Rocketh turned and stepped back inside the armory. After a few moments of indecision, the badger picked up the sword that Lord Sunforge had made for him, and gazed at it with hard eyes. Just as he had before, he gave the sword a few practice swings. It would be easy to wear this on my back, thought Rocketh. Without quite knowing why, Lord Rocketh abandoned his pride and accepted the fine sword that Lord Sunforge had made him as his own.
~~~
Luc and Ellen made their way through Mossflower Wood, keeping their senses alert for any sight, sound, or smell that would indicate the presence of Kiran or his otter friends. So far, they had managed to escape the harassment of any otter or vermin, and Luc was already relaxed and was beginning to enjoy herself. Ellen, on the other paw, clutched tightly at her staff and snapped at Luc whenever he made an attempt at casual conversation. After his fourth attempt to lighten Ellen up and having no luck, the squirrel had kept silent.
Mossflower was still damp from the storm that had struck the previous night. Wet grass squished under Luc's feet as he walked, and although most of the moisture had evaporate from the leaves above him, an occasional dewdrop still managed to find its way down to the ground. The sun shone brightly, and kept Luc warm even through the cover of the treetops. The only thing about the walk that made it seem less relaxing than it could have been was Ellen.
"There!" whispered the squirrelmaid to Luc, whipping around and pointing her staff toward the bushes off the path. "I heard something there!" Luc didn't take Ellen to seriously, as she had already called two false alarms this far into the walk, but he still stepped forward and raised his staff toward the bushes. After waiting for about half a minute to see if there was any movement in the bushes, Luc relaxed.
"There's nothing in there," Luc said, tensing as he uttered the words. He had said the same thing when Ellen had pointed out the previous false alarms to him. Both times, she had whacked him in the legs with her staff.
This time, though, she merely sighed and shook her head. "I guess I'm getting a bit jumpy about this. I might have even been wrong about the otters coming out here ahead of me, though I'd certainly believe it of them. And sorry about snapping at you, Luc. I think I'll just try to enjoy myself." Ellen ran ahead of Luc, carrying her herb gathering basket in one paw and clutching her staff tightly in the other. Luc was puzzled by Ellen's abrupt change of mood, but he didn't object. Allowing himself a small smile, he hurried after her.
Less than ten minutes later, Ellen had gathered all the herbs she'd set out to find. Her basket was perched on a rock, and she and Luc were leaned back against a tree. For Luc, the walk had taken an abrupt turn for the better once Ellen lost her jumpiness. He now let himself relax fully, now that he didn't have to worry about being whacked in the legs with Ellen's staff. The squirrelmaid, too, had relaxed as well, if not as fully as Luc had. Even though she sat calmly with her back to the tree, she let her ears pick up any sound that she could make out and gazed carefully at the woodlands around her. Her staff was close at paw, even though she didn't think she'd need it.
"I wonder how Andrew is doing," said Luc quietly as he closed his eyes and let his mind wander. "I doubt the storm affected him too much, but he might've had to stop early once the rain started falling. And I wonder what that he does with that mouse Hake. Somehow, he teaches Luc far better than Cain or Gormin or my father could ever hope to teach. I wonder why Hake never became Redwall's Champion, or fought in the Stormrat War?"
"Maybe he's a peaceful beast," answered Ellen. "He might be good at wielding a weapon, but he could hate war. Maybe he doesn't want to lose anyone in battle like Andrew lost his mother. But then, he's a hermit. What could he have to lose?"
"I don't know. But Andrew seems to be turning into a better warrior than either of us. Maybe someday, he'll be the next Abbey Champion. Even though the Stormrats are good and gone, there are still plenty of vermin in Mossflower that he would need to defend the Abbey from." Luc shifted his legs, and felt his dagger rub up against his footpaws. "I wonder about him, sometimes. He seems older than he is. A lot like Gormin, except even more quiet. Maybe that's how it always is with beasts destined to be Champions?"
"Yeah, there is something strange about him," said Ellen. "But I don't mind. He's been like that as far back as I can remember. Even before his mother died. I just don't understand him, sometimes."
"There are many beasts I don't understand," said Luc. "Andrew's just one of them. Maybe I'm just not wise enough to figure everybody out." Luc stood. "We should probably start going back to the Abbey. I don't think it's smart to stay in one part of Mossflower for too long, even if the area is supposed to be safe. But can we take our time in getting back to Redwall? I'm just starting to relax, and I want to stay away from chores for a bit longer."
Ellen smiled, and also got to her feet. "Yes, we should take our time. No reason to hurry back when the weather is so nice and welcoming."
"I bet Andrew was thinking something like that when he left Redwall yesterday," Luc joked. "Who knows when the weather could tu-."
Luc was cut off by a furry paw clamping over his mouth. He reached up his own paws to try to pry it away and began to struggle, but the beast that had caught him was strong and did not seem as if it wanted to let Luc go.
"Stop struggling," hissed the voice of the beast who caught him. Luc was both relieved and annoyed to hear the voice of Kiran. He let his body go limp and allowed the otter to drag him into the bushes on the side of the path that he and Ellen had been walking. He saw Ellen being dragged into the bushes by one of Kiran's friends, but she was putting up more of a fight. The otter snorted disgustedly, and with one strong pull of his arms, brought Ellen into the bushes with them.
"Hush already!" hissed the otter, who Luc recognized as being a Redwaller named Retherin. "Shut up unless you want the vermin to get you!"
Ellen lifted up her paws and removed Retherin's paws from her mouth. "Vermin?" she said quietly, glaring at Kiran and Retherin. "Is this some sort of joke? This is supposed to be a safe place. An area free of vermin. Do you expect me to believe-."
Retherin once again clamped his paw over Ellen's mouth, and she didn't even bother to struggle as she saw three ferrets enter the clearing. Each of them bore a short dagger, but they would have looked fearsome even without the weapons. Luc saw his friend shudder with revulsion. It was the first time Ellen had seen a vermin, and the first time he had, as well. In truth, they didn't look very different from a Redwaller, but the way in which they moved struck a sort of fear into Luc's heart. Their ripped clothing also added to the disgust he felt for them, and the blood that stained one of the ferret's paws almost drove Luc into a panic. Surely Kiran had set out with more than one other otter, whatever he planned to do. But that would mean that those monsters had killed a Redwaller.
"Where did them other otters go?" asked one of the ferrets in a rough voice. "We slain two of 'em, but that'll only give us enough food for a couple days. If we could get the rest o' them, we'd have at least enough meat t' last us for ten days. They're as big as we're, but I don't think they've ever fought before. We could get them without much of a fight."
Another one of the ferrets sniggered. "I don't think they've even seen a ferrit before, m' brothers! Might be some tough lookin' beasts, but they're too green to fight us."
They're going to eat otters...? The initial horror that had overcome Luc as he had heard them say this was erased from his mind by a flash of hatred as he watched the ferrets move slowly along the path, joking and laughing about their prey. "We can take 'em," the squirrel whispered, releasing his staff and working the dagger he carried out of his boot. "We know how to fight."
"Are you crazy, mate?" hissed Kiran. "We'll get slaughtered, just like Stranwin and Githe."
"Did ye hear somethin'," asked one of the ferrets. Squirrel and otter fell silent immediately. The vermin gazed around the woods, peering into each tree. Luc was sure he could feel their gaze as it passed over him, but by some miracle or another, they didn't see him. "Ah. I must've been dreamin'."
"Hey. The tracks get small'r 'round here," said one ferret, pointing down. "Looks like other beasts. And it seems like the otters took to the bushes..."
Luc didn't know what sort of wordless signal passed between the beasts huddled in the bushes, but almost as one, the two otters charged forward, followed closely by Ellen, who held her spear out in front of her as both a shield and a weapon. Luc was a moment behind them, having taken the time to work the dagger out of his boot and into his paw.
"Redwall!" howled Kiran in a voice that was a mixture of agony and rage. The otter lunged at one of the ferrets, sweeping the vermin's footpaws out from under him. The ferret raised the dagger he held in a feeble attempt to defend himself, but the enraged otter ripped the weapon from the ferret's grasp and tossed it aside. With an insane look on his face, Kiran closed his paws around the throat of the ferret and began to slowly throttle the beast.
Retherin was also fighting a ferret, but he wasn't doing as well as Kiran was. The ferret that was fighting Retherin tried to get in close to the otter and slash at him with his dagger, but the otter swiped his paws forward at the ferret and sent him dodging backward, trying to keep out of the beast's reach. Retherin dodged the ferret's blows in a similar manner, and it seemed that neither of them were making any progress against the other.
The ferret Ellen was fighting circled the squirrelmaid, dodging away from her as she lashed out at him with her staff. But even though her blows didn't hurt the ferret, they prevented him from getting close enough to swipe at her with his dagger.
Luc caught the ferret as it circled Ellen. Silently and quickly, he plunged the blade of his dagger into the back of the ferret's neck. With a hideous gurgle, the vermin fell to the ground, taking Luc's dagger with it. The young squirrel leaped backward, staring in shock at what he had just done.
Ellen was quick to come to Retherin's aid when she saw that he wasn't getting anywhere on his own. Together, the squirrel and otter managed to back the ferret up towards a tree. When he saw that he was outnumbered, with an otter and a squirrel up against him and Kiran rising from the limp body of the ferret he had killed, the ferret turned the other way and ran.
Instead of giving pursuit, Kiran slumped to the ground and stared at the body of the ferret he killed. Ellen and Retherin gazed in horror at the scene of death their wrath had caused, and Luc sank to his knees and wept. Am I a murderer, he though, seeing the ferret's blood staining the dagger in its neck. Luc's dagger. He was the one responsible for the ferret's death. What have I done? he thought frantically. Then he buried his face in his paws and wept.