VI.
FOXGUARD
"Coulda used a few more cells down here, seems t' me."
Custis, striding alongside Jaffox as the two of them reviewed the crowded, barred chambers, nodded his agreement. "As Sword Tolar is so fond of pointing out, Foxguard is a fortress, not a jail. Its dungeons were never designed to hold more than a modest number of detainees. Guess Lord Urthblood always just assumed his swordfoxes wouldn't leave many foebeasts alive in any battle that found them."
Jaffox let slip an evil grin that chilled many of the rodent prisoners staring out from behind their bars. "Now that's the kind of thinkin' I'm all in with!"
Foxguard's holding cells, taking up nearly half the stronghold's lower level, had never seen use before the arrival of the Gawtrybe, a seeming afterthought for contingencies as yet unrealized. But the Purge - a term, Custis had come to learn, which Jaffox had no issue with, and freely used himself - had changed all that, and now the victims of the Badger Lord's resettlement campaign packed these dungeons.
Dozens of rats - family beasts and ruffians all mixed together - stood, sat and lay in their confined misery, the latest to be caught up in the Gawtrybe sweeps. Indignant anger simmered here, to be sure, but fear and confusion outweighed the suppressed rage, and most of the faces staring back at the fox and squirrel showed the same dazed, uncertain disbelief Captain Ramjohn had seen earlier that season displayed by the first batch of rats being delivered to Salamandastron.
Of course, this was the first time any of them had set eyes on Jaffox. The silent and deadly squirrel assassins who cut down rat resistors without mercy were bad enough, but now this gloating, menacing fox barbarian only added the worst elements of nightmare to their plight.
"We'll be moving them out of here today," Custis went on. "Got another bunch coming in from the east, a score at least, so we'll need to make room. Perhaps you could spare some of your foxes to help us escort them across the river and get them to Choock's shrews for passage to the coastlands? Tolar has made it quite clear he and his brigade consider such necessary duties beneath them."
"Tolar, playin th' high 'n' mighty card? Who'da thunk that?" Jaffox's voice dripped acrimonious sarcasm.
"Yes, well, at least that horde in the valley to our northeast did us some favor in this regard, gathering together so many of the rats from this part of Mossflower that it's left far fewer for us to sweep up ... and far fewer to spread the word to other parts of this region."
"Yah - except that alla their rats made it t' Redwall."
"Hrmph."
"Been meanin' t' speak to you more about that horde, Cap'n, so as to that an' yer request as well, let's discuss it further upstairs, in th' comfort of our grand Sword host's office, why don't we?"
As the two of them left the imprisoned rats behind and climbed the four flights of stairs to Foxguard's uppermost level, the Gawtrybe captain remarked, "I'm surprised Tolar doesn't have you drilling out on the practice grounds along with his own foxes. He's usually a stickler for such things."
"Seems he's just as glad when he's got as little t' do with me 'n' mine as he can - th' less, th' better. Works fer me ... an' it means we can use his chambers while he's out playin' toy soldier."
A short time later up in the Sword's office, Custis and Jaffox stood looking over Foxguard's main tactical map of the nearer region, spread out on the table before them. Studying the topography, the big fox mused, "Seems a shame, this tower bein' built right on th' river like it is, an' you not makin' better use of th' waterways."
"We've talked about building passenger rafts to bear the prisoners directly down the Moss from here to the sea ... "
"So why ain'tcher done it?"
"All of our timber-working supplies and half our labor are tied up with the construction of Gawdrey."
"Not half. Not anymore. I just brought you another hunnerd, 'member? That should give us quite a few extra paws t' use fer such things."
Custis looked at Jaffox. "I thought those Gawtrybe reinforcements were sent to help us with our sweeps."
"'Sweep' is a pretty broad term, ain't it? Gathering up all this riffraff's only half th' job; we still gotta move 'em along after that. An' even if we set t' building us a whole fleet o' rafts right this moment, that won't help us with the overflow we already got, or those other prisoners who'll be gettin' here any day now." Jaffox returned his attention to the map. "An' with the dinky liddle ferry service y' got here, just crossin' that lot you've got downstairs now'll be a chore an' a half, takin' sev'ral trips. Pretty inefficient, even by my own loose standards. I can think of a whole lotta better ways I'd rather spend my day." He stabbed a paw at the riverbank nearest the quarry. "What about all those barges I hear are gathered here? They'd suit our purposes perfectly."
Custis was clearly taken aback by this suggestion. "Those are the Redwallers' rafts, for their quarrying work."
"But you Gawtrybe built 'em."
"With the help of the Guosim shrews."
"Our need's greater'n theirs. Let them Abbeyfolk build new barges fer shippin' their stone back to Redwall. I'm commandeerin' 'em to get our prisoners sailed down th' Moss to Salamandastron."
"I'm ... not sure that's an entirely wise thing to do."
"Lord Urthblood sent me here to get results, and these are the kind of results he's expectin' of me."
"The Redwallers won't allow you to take their rafts."
"I don't plan on askin'. Yer latest reports from the lookout tower are that they're still workin' the quarry, an' ain't even got any stone moved outta that pit yet ... an' that there's no guards posted on those craft either. Long as that's the case, they're ours fer the takin' - so take 'em I will."
Custis sighed. "Tensions with the Redwallers are high enough as it is. This is only likely to inflame the situation further."
"Duly noted. I'll be moving the prisoners out at dusk, so we can get to those rafts after nightfall, an' get 'em loaded an' pushed off under cover o' dark, while nobeast's lookin', or likely to interfere."
"Mmhmm. And just who'll be piloting those barges between here and the sea? Or were you planning to let the detainees steer and paddle themselves right into the searats' paws?"
"Well, ye're the one who just said you'd been givin' this some thought too. How did you have in mind t' get it done?"
"In my conversations with Tolar, we agreed such an operation would entail recalling Captain Choock's shrews from the Plains and reassigning them to ferry duty. But, that has not been done yet, because we were still mulling it over. Hence, there are no shrews at Foxguard now, and no way we'll be able to get any here by nightfall, or even tomorrow."
This answer clearly didn't satisfy Jaffox. "Lemme ask this, then: How d'you get Foxguard's ferry back 'n' forth cross't th' river when need be?"
"Sometimes our weasel laborers do the punting and rowing, and sometimes Tolar assigns junior foxes of his brigade to perform the task."
"Well there y' go. Gimme some o' those lazy loafin' layabout weasels, an' we'll have them guide the prisoner rafts to th' sea. Problem solved."
Custis gave a sour look. "While I generally agree with your assessment of their character, currently they're being kept quite busy with the minting of the Realms, and Tolar will be loathe to spare any from that duty."
"The Realms? You mean those ugly liddle trinkets not even the Redwallers would accept, forcin' Tolar to carry back most of th' sackfuls they took with 'em? We got more o' those made already than we can give away. Hardly a priority when we got burstin' cells downstairs right now with more rats on th' way. I'll pull whatever weasels I need off that pointless project an' put 'em to some real use."
"Just one problem with that. Technically, and by Lord Urthblood's official decree, you're still only second-in-command at Foxguard. You can't supersede Tolar in this - and he holds relations with Redwall as far more important than perhaps he should. He'd never agree with what you're proposing."
"Then you reassign the weasels I need to me. This Purge is under your direct command here in Mossflower, an' you've got the authority to reallocate whatever resources you need t' get it done - over an' above our too-full-of-himself Sword."
"I ... let me think about this. There's still time to consider all the ramifications before you would have to leave this evening. But I should point out that weasels are not nearly as sure or experienced riverbeasts as shrews. If they hit any rough waters or challenging stretches along the Moss on their way to the coast, we could lose both them and their prisoners."
"Then we'd hafta get ourselves some new weasels, wouldn't we? Th' rats don't matter, goes without sayin'."
"Unless some escape such a mishap, forcing us to locate and capture them all over again. That's extra work we don't need."
Jaffox displayed another wicked grin. "Then I'll just hafta make sure they're tied up good 'n' tight, so they won't be doin' any swimming if their rafts do capsize or wreck."
Custis heaved a labored sigh. "With all your foxes here and another hundred Gawtrybe besides, I suppose those weasels can be spared. Tolar won't like it, though. And what of the next batch we've got coming in? Commandeer more of the Redwallers' rafts, and reassign more weasels to them?"
"Naw. If that's a small bunch like you say, we'll send 'em across here t' Choock's shrews, like you were gonna do with this current lot. But that'll hafta be the last group we send off that way. After that, I will want ferry shrews pulled back here, an' more barges built fer all future transfers. We'll have a lot more t' send off once I get rollin', an' it's too slow movin' 'em out by any other way than the river."
Jaffox moved his paw northward on the map. "Now let's talk about this so-called horde here. What's been done about 'em?"
"We've been ignoring them. They don't pose any threat, and aside from being the source of the rats at Redwall, they don't concern us at all."
"You've not reached out to 'em? Tried to initiate any contact at all?"
"No, why? We're quite busy enough with what we've got on our paws already, and as long as they don't get in our way ... "
"They need t' be brought in."
"Brought in? This isn't the Northlands, Jaffox. We've got an entirely different campaign to concern ourselves with here. We'll be quite occupied without worrying about anything like that."
"That's yer problem, Cap'n: You see 'em as a complication, an obstacle t' be avoided. I see 'em as potential recruits - a resource to be tapped. It's allers been Lord Urthblood's standin' edict that all vermin, brigands an' hordebeasts swear loyalty to him, or be slain. An' I'm th' one to lay down that choice to 'em. In fact, once I get our rats sent off t'night, targetin' that valley horde's my very next order o' business."
"You really think you can get them to join our Pur- ... our campaign?"
"Easiest recruitment you could ask for. We got force of arms to intimidate 'em inta submission, plus they recently lost a big chunk o' their forces. A chunk that'll serve us doubly well, since that miserable bunch can't be happy about all their rat comrades defectin' like they did, and might just be lookin' fer some payback on that score, if presented with the opportunity. Well, that's an opportunity I plan on givin' 'em. The velvet gauntlet, or th' spiked mace. I'll make 'em see what's best for 'em, see to it they make the right choice - just like I have so many times up North."
"I admire your confidence. You pull this off, and it'll be the first thing about this whole campaign that's gone right so far."
"I'll need backup. Even a horde in disarray's still a horde. Me 'n' my foxes storm in there alone, they'll see it as just another would-be warlord tryin' to take 'em over fer his own."
Custis let the suggestion of a sardonic grin play across his face. "Are you sure that's not what it would be?"
Jaffox returned the half-grin with unabashed enthusiasm. "Wouldn't turn down a local regiment of my own. Maybe they'll already have somebeast in charge there who'll be smart enuff to recognize the inevitable an' not put up a fight; mebbe, if he impresses me enuff, I'll even let 'im stay in charge of that rabble, long as he answers to me."
"And me," Custis reminded the fox. "And to Tolar too, for that matter. No new field officer, no matter how capable, can be placed above the authority of longstanding captains and commanders."
"I'll make sure he knows that."
"And if they don't accept your terms?"
"You know th' drill - same as th' Northlands. Start at th' top, an' chop our way down 'til we get to somebeast who'll see reason. However many heads it takes."
"You sound determined to go ahead with this, so be my guest. Tolar will be glad to have you out of Foxguard for however many days it takes you to get this done. For that matter, it might be best if you're already gone before he finds out you commandeered the Abbeybeasts' rafts. He'll not be a happy Sword when he gets hit with that news."
"You handle our good Sword, an' I'll handle th' horde. If he has any problem with any o' this, he 'n' his brigade'll find themselves facin' twice the army they are now!"
00000000000
That evening, Jaffox and half his squad led their bound rat captives out of Foxguard, accompanied by enough ferry weasels he deemed sufficient for his purposes. With most of Tolar's brigade indoors taking dinner or relaxing in their bunks after a hard day's drilling and fortress chores - and with the Gawtrybe standing all the walltop watches - no fox under the Sword's longtime command noticed that Jaffox led his prisoners north into the woods instead of directly out to the canal for the expected crossing on the stronghold's own modest ferry, as had been done with the previous detainees passing through Foxguard.
Tolar did indeed have Haddican and a few of his other most trusted senior foxes keeping a close eye on the newly-arrived ruffians from the North - while they were within the walled premises. Thus was it duly observed and noted when Jaffox escorted the rats outside for their presumed crossing of the Moss at this point - and thus was it also noted and reported when Jaffox failed to reappear in any kind of timely manner, and the junior foxes sent outside to investigate found the Foxguard ferry tied up in its usual spot, with no sign of foxes, weasels or rats anywhere.
Tolar, appraised of this mystery, sought out Custis on the nighttime walltop, where he found the Gawtrybe captain relaxing with Lady Mina, the two squirrels enjoying the clear, starry sky.
"Where's Jaffox, Captain?"
"And a fine evening to you too, Sword," Mina cut in before Custis could reply to the brusque interrogatory.
Tolar nodded her way. "Lady. I mean no slight, but the Captain and I have a matter to discuss, and that is uppermost on my mind."
"Then don't let me stop you." Mina took a demure stance of bystanderness, but made no move to leave the two of them alone.
"To answer your question, Sword," said Custis, "Jaffox took the rats out to make room for the new ones that are on their way."
"At this hour?"
"Foxes have good night vision ... but then, I need hardly tell you that, need I?"
Mina, looking on, snerked at this in spite of herself.
Tolar ignored her display. "What do you mean, he took them out? The ferry has not been used tonight."
"He had ... other plans for them."
"Other plans? He's not ... he's going to massacre them, isn't he?"
"Not that I am aware of. He spoke of using another transfer point which would not entail crossing here. He does not intend to slaughter them, Sword, of that I am fairly certain, so settle your mind on that score. He might well be capable of such an atrocity, but he would never leave so many bodies lying around to be found, and I don't see him and his foxes taking pains to bury them all either. Those rats are as safe in his paws as they would be in yours or mine, or nearly so."
"Why does your assertion not reassure me? And what other transfer point did he have in mind?"
"Much happens outside these walls that you might not be aware of, Sword. Much that Lord Urthblood had his paw in."
Tolar looked to Mina. "Were you aware of any of this, Lady?"
"Me? How could I be? I spent most of this afternoon up on the observation deck, taking in the sights of wider Mossflower. Anybeast who visits Foxguard and fails to take frequent advantage of that wondrous panorama is a fool. And your foxes stationed up there were most polite and helpful ... even if we Gawtrybe could easily manage such duties ourselves."
"In light of all I learned at Redwall, Lady, there will henceforth always be foxes standing high watch along with the Gawtrybe - and I don't mean Jaffox's brutes either. The Captain here speaks of much escaping my notice outside these walls, but maybe such would not be the case if I hadn't allowed him and his squirrels to completely take over the watches - an oversight I've now rectified."
Custis gave a shrug. "As you wish, Sword. It's your fortress, after all."
"These days I wonder about that sometimes. Just how much did you know of Matowick's mission to Redwall, and the battle in the Plains which took place afterwards, all while you were keeping me in the dark about it?"
"Before the fact? Nothing, as I've already told you. Nothing at all. Lord Urthblood did not deem it necessary to notify or consult with me about the planning of any of that. Even now, I mostly know the details of all that happened due to you and Lady Mina."
"But at the time? While you were observing the actual battle, and never thought to alert me?"
Custis gaze Tolar a caustic gaze. "Just like you never thought to tell me about nearly two hundred rats clearly making for the quarry, and thence crossing the river to escape to Redwall?"
Tolar snorted in exasperation. "In any case, Jaffox is officially still subject to my orders, and as such he should never have taken out the prisoners without my leave. That's borderline insubordination."
"Then perhaps you should spend less time ignoring and ostracizing him, and try cooperating and coordinating with him as you were meant to. Pretending he's not here isn't going to make him go away."
"You two seem to be getting along just fine. Why don't you take him to Gawdrey with you when you leave?"
"He was assigned to Foxguard, not Gawdrey. But you raise the point that I will be leaving, sooner or later. Then Jaffox will be all yours, so I suggest you start trying to learn how to get along with him now."
Tolar scowled. "He's not fit company for civilized beasts!"
"Perhaps not - but he's very good at what he does. Lord Urthblood didn't call him down here for afternoon teatimes over crumpets and scones. But, given your feelings on the matter, I can share with you at least one development you should find encouraging."
"Oh?"
"We spent some time today discussing the valley horde to the northeast. Jaffox intends to recruit them for our campaign. And that's an effort which will take him some good number of days ... and maybe a number more after that, if he stays out in the field to oversee them. That will keep him out of your fur for a respectable period, so you can give thanks for that much at least."
"Mm hmm. And when this horde of his is all tamed and finished helping him with his dirty work, I assume he'll be bringing them all back to Foxguard with him?"
"Well, they certainly won't fit in at Gawdrey. And if they've sworn their loyalty to Lord Urthblood and proven their worth in the field, then they'll be as free to come and go here as any other troops in this army."
"Except that Lord Urthblood won't be on the scene to properly vet them - and I hardly trust Jaffox in either his judgment or his methods where such vital interests are concerned."
Then perhaps we should summon His Lordship here to address your concerns."
"Perhaps we should."
"Then prepare the message you see fit to flash to Salamandastron by signal mirror, or to be delivered by bird if you prefer. You say Saugus is recuperating at Redwall after that bizarre affair with that message for Lady Mina. Perhaps he'll fly here first after his recovery, and you can send it with him."
"Then again, it may be academic," Tolar said, seemingly reversing himself. "If Jaffox has been granted the latitude to operate so freely, I will exercise similar latitude in my own decisions where this fortress is concerned. And if I deem these hordebeasts Jaffox thinks to 'bring in' to pose any manner of threat to Foxguard, they will not be allowed inside our walls."
"A threat to Foxguard, Sword - or to your personal authority here?"
Tolar glared at Custis. "You would not like to see Foxguard without my authority. Good evening to you, Captain. Lady." The Sword turned and strode defiantly from the two squirrels, rounding the walltop and descending to the enclosed grounds.
Mina looked to Custis. "You really shouldn't seek to goad him quite so much, Captain. He is the top commander here, after all, and with the arrival of Jaffox, his position is hardly an enviable or easy one."
Custis smiled in satisfaction. "He made the bed he lies in now. I have no sympathy for him as far as that goes. And a little goading can be useful sometimes - especially in ending a conversation you don't wish to continue."
Or in sending Tolar away in a huff before he could press the point of just where Jaffox had taken the rat prisoners, the Gawtrybe captain silently added to himself.
