3.

Call to Arms

"FUR AND FREEEDOOOOM!"

The war cry echoed though Noonvale like thunder on the mountains. The intensity of the shout was so great that all creatures that had been sleeping came awake. Many of the older residents felt a tremor of awe run up their backs. Those new to Noonvale had no idea what it meant.

Soon all beasts that had heard the fabled war cry were outside in the common area between Council Lodge and the Refuge. Martin stood on a rock in the middle of the grassy swath. He was girded for battle. He made a very impressive sight with his red cape billowing in the pre-dawn breeze. Beneath the fluttering fabric he had strapped his shield to his back. His sword poked from under the round dome with the hilt coming up from behind his right shoulder. His breastplate, greaves, and bracers gave off a myriad of reflections from two torches that had been set up on either side of him. The helmet was clipped to the thong of the travel pouch strapped around his waist. Around his right arm, just above the elbow was tied the scarf Rose had given him.

On his left stood Skipper holding the green banner of the Fur and Freedom Fighters. A flying javelin breaking through a set of slave chains. To his right stood Gonff the Prince of Mousethieves. The merry twinkle was gone from Gonff's eyes and he stood as firm and stoic as the armored mouse next to him. He played with two daggers and a sling and pouch of smooth river stones was wound around his waist. Behind the trio the Redwall otter crew stood silent and ready for war. Javelins and slings were very much in evidence, especially with the four otters that held the ropes that bound a large black crow.

"Martin? What is going on? Why have you woken us up so soon before dawn?" Brome was rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he addressed the Warrior. It was only then did Brome see the hard look in Martin's eye. Wisely the younger mouse kept his silence as Martin spoke to the crowd surrounding him.

"Noonvale, I dearly wish I could stay here longer with all of you and savor our victory over Rassk and his slavers. However this is not to be. A short while ago two maids where taken from here against their will. Columbine, wife of my friend Gonff." Gasps of shock arose from the news. Most Noonvalers had seen or met the pretty mousewife and all had liked her very much.
"And Laterose of Noonvale."

Loud cries of horror met his words. Brome rushed to where Martin stood. He grabbed the breastplate of the Warrior and began shaking him. "Rose gone! Who took her? Where did they go? Why are we still waiting here!?"

Martin gently, but firmly, broke Bromes hold and pushed him to one side off the rock. He continued to speak to the whole of Noonvale, pacing back and forth on the rock as he spoke. The cold steel in his voice gave testament to the fact that Martin would not fail in his quest to save Rose and Columbine. "I know not why they were taken or where they have gone. Gonff and I were able to capture the leader of the birds who took Columbine and Rose. Gonff, Skipper and his otter crew, and I have learned some of the reasons our friends were taken. This crow, Nightfeather he calls himself, claims he is servant of some beast who calls himself Lupisto. From what we were able to gather this Lupisto has been kidnapping maidens from their homes and families. We are still unsure of where this villain is. Nightfeather also claimed his master commands a vermin horde larger than anybeast has seen or heard of.
"I have already spoken to Emalet. She has agreed to help raise the banner of the Fur and Freedom Fighters once more. Even now she wings her way to find our old comrades. I ask for your help. I know many of you are not warriors. Therefore my friends and I shall travel back to Redwall. From there we will join forces with our Mossflower allies. Anybeast here is welcome to join and help by any means you are able. Be it warrior, healer, cook, smith, or other trade. We shall raise an army so great it cannot fail in rescuing our friends.
"No one will force you to come. The heart of the volunteer is greater than any conscripted beast could ever match. If the foe we face were even a tenth the size the crow would claim we would need all the help we can muster. Those of you who choose to help; see to your personal effects. We march for Redwall at first light be you ready or not."

Brome had calmed down slightly. He climbed back on the rock and spoke directly to Martin. "Warrior, I for one will join you. Rose once risked her life to find me. I could never live with myself if I was unwilling to do the same for her. I may not be a warrior like you, but I know I have to courage to follow you." He then turned to the crowd. Raising his voice his words carried clear and far over the assembled creatures.

"My friends, I urge you to follow Martin and myself. We were ready to defend ourselves against Rassk. I know in my heart we can rise to meet this new enemy. Go now and ready yourselves. We march come the dawn!" The crowd gave a great cheer and broke up so the inhabitants of Noonvale could ready themselves to depart.

Brome started to leave too when he felt Martin's paw on his shoulder. Brome turned to face his friend. "Brome there is more you should know. First, I cannot tell you how deeply grieved I am that Rose was taken. I should have protected her and I failed." Martin knelt to the Patriarch. "I humbly ask your forgiveness sir."

Brome was shocked that Martin would refer to him as "sir." Brome was several seasons junior to Martin in age. He could see the tears of shame in Martin's eyes. He had always thought of Martin as a very strong and tough mouse. Seeing the emotion displayed by the Warrior came as a shock to him. Brome couldn't understand why his dealings with warriors had always become so clouded. First was Felldoh. Brome remembered how his admiration had turned to disappointment and later disgust for what that squirrel had become. He had always admired Martin, because the mouse unlike the squirrel had focused on protecting his friends first and defeating his enemy second. Felldoh had been so consumed by hate that Brome was sure it had driven his friend mad.

Now here was Martin, one of the few warriors he had truly looked up to, weeping at his feet. Brome had thought if any warrior could remember his duty protect his friends it was Martin. Anger suddenly swelled in the heart of the young Chieftain. He looked down at Martin with distaste. "Forgiveness? You kneel there and ask for forgiveness? My father was right about you Martin. Rose has never known anything but trouble since she met you. First you lead her into a war that nearly killed her and then didn't have the courage to face her family afterwards. No, you ran to the south like a coward!"

Gonff and Skipper were too stunned to speak. They had liked Brome when they had first met him. They were also puzzled that Martin would just kneel there and not respond to Brome's harsh words. They did see Martin shut his eyes tight as Brome gave full vent to his spleen.

"Now you not only let my sister get kidnapped by crows but your best friends wife too!" Martin stood up and faced Brome with eyes red from his hot tears. "And you call yourself a warrior?" With unexpected swiftness Brome reached back and punched Martin in the face.

Martin could have easily dodged the blow. However he let it land with full force. The sharp pain in his cheek was nothing compared to the tear in his heart. He looked up to see Brome breathing heavily with a horrified expression on his face. Gonff and Skipper acted swiftly by grabbing the arms of the Noonvale ruler.

Brome couldn't believe himself. He had never stuck another creature in anger before. He had spoken harshly to many and quarreled with his father more times than he could remember. But that was the first he could recall actually hitting another creature. A deep sense of shame and disappointment came to him. He was supposed to be the leader of Noonvale a place of peace and he had let his emotions get away from him and used violence needlessly. The grip of the mouse and otter on either side of him barely registered.

Martin shook his head and spoke to his Redwall friends. "Skipper, Gonff let him go. I will not have us holding a friend like that. If Brome wishes to attack me he may do so. I will not stop him." Martin drew his sword and tossed it to the side to prove he was unarmed.

Brome then understood. For Martin to freely give up his sword showed that the Warrior Mouse was hurting just as much as he was over the loss of the two maids. He felt Skipper and Gonff release his arms. He dropped to his knees sobbing. Martin knelt down and put his paws on Brome's shoulders.

"I never meant for anything like this to happen to Rose. I would gladly lay my life down if it meant she would be safe from any harm. I know why you weep for her Brome. Believe me when I say no one feels her loss more than I."

Brome looked up at the face of Martin through his tears. "I know Martin. I apologize for striking you. It was uncalled for and undeserved. I let my feelings get carried away. Rose would never want to see us fighting. You are the most courageous mouse I have ever met."

Martin took a deep calming breath. "Thank you Brome. I accept your apology. There is one more thing you should know. When Rose was taken she was on her way to see you and Aryah. I had just asked Rose to marry me. She said yes and was going to tell you. I swear to you Brome, I will find her and free her."

Brome stood and picked up Martin's sword. He was surprised at its weight. "I will hold you to your vow Warrior." He then stood before the kneeling figure of Martin. Reverently he tapped the flat of the blade on both of Martin's shoulders. "I Brome, son of Urran Voh, Patriarch of Noonvale name you Champion and Defender of Noonvale. May you always abide by the Code of the Warrior. Protect the weak, safeguard the helpless, fight the evil, and do good to all. Rise, and take your sword." Brome presented it hilt first to the Warrior.

Martin stood up and looked at the familiar leather bound hilt. As he grasped it his feelings of loss and pain were greatly diminished. Once more he felt the call of the warrior. His paw grasped the sword tighter and tighter with the strength of his determination and iron will. He flashed it in a warrior's salute to Brome before sheathing it behind his back.

"Thank you again Brome. Now I have a request of you." He nodded at Gonff who dug in a haversack. The Thief pulled out a small sword no bigger than a dagger to the mice. He handed it to Martin who held it up to Brome. "Do you recognize this?"

Brome touched the small blade with reverence. "Aye, it is the blade the shrew Queen gave you. You carried on your quest to destroy Marshank. Later Amballa placed it on the stretcher that bore Rose home to Noonvale. It's one of Rose's most prized possessions."

Martin placed the keen blade on the palm of his left paw. "Then I can think of no better use for this sword than this." With a swift motion he drew the blade across his paw and a line of blood appeared. "By my blood and on my honor as a warrior, I will free your sister."

Brome knew what was required of him. He reached over and took the sword from Martin's paw. He then dragged the sharp metal across his own. "I swear by the ruling blood of Noonvale to stand by you in this Martin. Where you go I go. Where you lead I will follow. Until our task is done."

Martin clasped his bleeding paw to Bromes. The two mice recited the ancient words of a blood promise.

"By our blood the pact is made,
By our blood the price is paid.
I in you and you in I,
Our blood sealed vow we'll not defy."

The two mice gripped the others paw until their knuckles turned white. The only sound audible was that of their mingled blood spattering on the rock beneath them.

A/N; Wow, Brome punched Martin. I'll bet you never saw that one coming. But again let's get back to the "what would you do" primer. Personally if my sister's boyfriend admitted he had let her get kidnapped I'd probably punch him in the face too. But this is good-hearted Brome we're talking about. He can't stay angry for long so that explains the quick make up.

And what else do we see? Martin's blood in another? Curious, but I'm sure that won't play a part in future events. And by the way my bridge in New York City is currently for sale. $30 billion or best higher offer. Just kidding with you. Hope you're enjoying the story so far.