Chapter 3

Brome laid in bed, tossing and turning. He dreamt about his sister and an old colleague of his, Felldoh. Rose was dressed in a white gown, Felldoh was dressed in a suit of silver armor, wielding a long pike. Rose's hair was wavy and curly, while Felldoh's head was more well kept and the fur was wetted back. Rose spoke to her brother.

"Brome Voh, you must return to Marshank, evil has resurfaced and it is Badrang the Tyrant."

Brome started sweating and he spoke.

"But, but, but Badrang's dead, I saw Martin stab him right through the heart, no beast could survive that!"

"Yes, he is vanquished but, that doesn't mean he truly is."

Brome developed a confused gesture upon his face and replied to the Ghost of Laterose.

"What does that mean?"

"Badrang had a son, named Damien. He has travelled to Marshank to finish what his father had started."

Felldoh then stepped in.

"Brome, you must take a few beasts with you and journey to Fortress Marshank, there you will confront Damien and kill him."

A cold sweat dripped from Brome's forehead.

"K-k-kill him?"

"Yes, kill him. I will lend you my courage and strength, and Rose will lend you wisdom."

Brome awoke, he saw his wife was still in a deep sleep. A moment later, he heard little Rosie crying. Brome walked over to the bassinet and peered over the wicker made bed. Brome scooped her up and cradled the baby mouse to his chest.

"Oh, what's wrong. Are you hungry?"

The infant mouse could only reply with cries, and whimpers. The mouse walked into the kitchen, and opened the cupboards. He saw a tiny bottle of milk for his little one. He popped the bottle in her mouth and she suckled away. Brome looked at the wonderful creature, so innocent and pure. She reminded of him when he was just a mousebabe.

At Marshank, Damien tossed and turned, he dreamt about his father, Badrang, getting slain over and over by Martin the Warrior. Damien clenched his fangs, tightly gripped the bed sheets, and mumbled incoherently. In Damien's dream, Martin's eyes started to glow, a crimson red flashed in the pupils of the mouse warrior. He then turned to Damien and thrusted his sword into the stoat's stomach. Damien awoke screaming and clenching his underbelly. The stoat looked down and saw he was completely unharmed, Falos and an ermine guard rushed into the longhouse.

"What happened, Chief? Who attacked you?"

Falos asked, Damien responded by throwing an empty tankard at Falos' head.

"Fool, if I was attacked, I'd be dead by now. Wouldn't I?!"

Falos and his companion both stammerered.

"Y-y-yes, Chief."

Damien laid back down and messaged his temples. He turned to his side and spoke to his Right Paw, and his guard.

"Get back to your duties. I'll have Golfang and one of his beasts relieve you two tomorrow at sun up. Now, goodnight."

Damien closed his eyes and resumed his slumber.

The next morning, everybeast in Noonvale gave each other a cheerful "good morning." Still asleep, Brome was still holding his daughter. The baby mouse decide to wake her father up by tugging on his whiskers. As she tugged on Brome's whiskers, his eyes shot open. He saw the baby mousemaid smiling at her papa and he smiled back.

"Good morning, little one. Did you sleep well?"

The baby mousemaid smiled and giggled at her father. Brome looked over his shoulder to see Sharon was out of bed and out of the cottage.

"Come on, let's see where mummy went."

He said to his infant, the little on suckled her her thumbclaw. The two made it out and were greeted by Pallum, Keyla, Ballaw, and Rowanoak. Brome smiled and greeted them all back. Rowanoak spoke to her Chieftain.

"Now that you're finally up, everyone here's been waiting to eat."

"Hmhm, why did they just eat without me?"

"Because, it isn't proper to eat without the Chieftain."

"I've got to change that rule, I won't let anybeast of mine go without food, even if it's for a couple of hours."

"Hehe, hurry along, Brome Voh, your wife is waiting for you."

Brome ran to the village's longhouse, where Sharon and their subjects awaited. Rowanok and company followed Brome inside. Brome sat down next to Sharon and gave little Rose to his mother, Arayah. They passed bowls of fruit medley with meadow cream, strawberry tarts, stacks of pancakes, jugs of strawberry and blackberry cordial, wheat toast, and many other delectables. Brome was pondering on a subject, he wondered how his old friend, Martin was doing.

At Redwall Abbey, Martin, dressed in a brown habit and wearing spectacles walked through the Abbey courtyard, he was greeted by Gonff, Columbine, and Abbess Germaine. Gonff, still the lean yet potbellied mouse that he was, was clad in a shorts sleeved tunic, trouser, and leather boots. Columbine was dressed in a eloquent violet gown, and Abbess Germaine was dressed in the same colored habit as Martin was.

"Beautiful day, isn't it?"

Martin asked his friends there. Gonff let out a hearty belly laugh and replied.

"Oh, it is, Martin. My little one, Gonff II is growing up fast. Just the other day, I caught him trying to steal one of my chalices. Like father, like son."

Columbine placed a paw over her mouth to stifle her giggling.

"He is definitely like his father, if he's stealing."

Martin replied. Columbine saw, Bella of Brockhall with Tungro and his crew of otters. The Mother Abbess waved to the Badgermum and Skipper. Tungro walked up to Germaine and kneeled down to her level.

"Please stand, there is no need to kneel for me, we are all equal."

"Hmhmhm, I must have forget, ma'am. Me and me crew just got back from our fishing exposition. We've brought back, nets upon nets of fish. Enough for a feast."

Germaine smiled at the Skipper. Bella walked up to the Skipper and Abbess and addressed them that breakfast was ready.

"Breakfast, is almost ready. Peach pie, strawberry tarts, cinnamon wheat pancake, and jugs of apple brew."

"Thank you, Mother. Martin care to join us for breakfast before you leave our haven?"

Martin smiled and nodded to his Abbess. Martin was thinking about his late friends, Laterose, Felldoh, and Timballisto. Laterose and Felldoh were killed 18 years ago in The Battle of Marshank. Timballisto didn't have a warrior's death at all. The poor creature died of hypothermia, 8 seasons ago, and a season after Martin killed Tsarmina and her Thousand Eyes Army.

Outside of Redwall, a pair of yellow eyes watched the Abbey from afar. In the shadows, it was a silhouette of a ermine.