THE CRIMSON BADGER - Chapter Twenty
That evening, there were only two guests for the Abbey supper. Lord Urthblood and Lady Mina joined the Redwallers in eating, but all of the captains, including Machus, remained outside to enjoy a more frugal dinner with their troops. Urthblood explained that it was wise to keep officers and enlisted beasts together whenever possible, so that the lower ranks would fully feel a part of this army. The captains obviously deserved some privileges to go with their increased responsibilities. But they must never seem too high above the soldiers they commanded, if this was to remain an effective fighting force.
The Badger Lord took this philosophy a step further, announcing at the end of the meal that he too would sleep outside with his army that night. Lady Mina would join him, of course. It was not for her to savor a soft Redwall bed while everybeast who'd come down from the north with her slept upon the ground under the stars.
Vanessa mildly protested that they should decline the hospitality of Redwall, but finally she accepted Urthblood's choice with the polite grace expected of an Abbess. In truth, she was only feigning disappointment. She'd called a closed-door meeting that night, one to which Urthblood and his captains were most pointedly not invited. It would have been awkward holding a session of the Abbey leaders with Urthblood on the premises, since he would be certain to notice he was being excluded from something. Now, he would not be on paw to ask embarrassing questions or observe his hosts' secrecy, and Vanessa was relieved that Urthblood had so unwittingly - and unexpectedly - assisted them by deciding to spend the night outside the walls.
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Vanessa glanced around the once-again crowded study. "We seem to be short one otter and one squirrel. Does anybeast here know what's keeping them?"
"I just saw Alex down by the south wallgate," Geoff volunteered. "He was bidding goodnight to Lady Mina before she went outside."
"Oh, no," Maura groaned. "We could be here all night, waiting for those two lovebirds to pull themselves apart. What about Monty?"
"He was making one last round of the walltop and gates before he joined us here," said Arlyn. "Wants to make sure all the entrances are properly guarded and all the sentries properly stationed while we're up here in conference. One thing I'll say for that ever-hungry otter Skipper of ours, he certainly takes his new position as seriously as he should."
"But let's not hope too seriously, eh?" Monty was halfway through the door as Arlyn finished speaking, pushing Alexander before him and nearly knocking Geoff and Foremole off their feet. The assembled Abbey leaders reshuffled themselves around Vanessa's study to make room for the two late arrivals. Monty closed the door firmly and stood with his back against it.
Vanessa was about to commence when she saw that Monty was devouring an oversized muffin - apple, by the smell of it.
"Monty! I hope you're not going to tell us you kept us all waiting just so you could run down to the kitchens for that?"
"Mmrgrf! Not at all, Nessa! Wink t'were keepin' it safe fer me - ran inta th' lad outside while I was roundin' up this lovestruck bushtail. An' a good thing, too. Can't have that scallywag scoffin' on th' job. Hardly proper waterdog form, eh?" Monty made another huge mouthful of muffin disappear, while the sweet apple aroma grew stronger in the chamber.
Maura licked her lips. "You're a fine one to speak about what's proper. You should have brought enough for all of us."
"Couldn't have managed it, Madam Stripes." Monty held up his half-finished muffin, which was still an impressive pawful. "Had t' wrangle this behemoth with one flipper, which only left me one to pull me matey away from his new ladylove. Even fer a full-fledged Skipper such as m'self, t'was almost too much. Mmrf!" The remaining muffin went to his mouth and got a little bit smaller.
"Enough of this silliness," Vanessa declared, forcing herself to keep a straight face. "We have important matters to discuss.
"It has been three days since Lord Urthblood's army came upon us. An army filled with rats, weasels, ferrets, stoats and a score of foxes carrying swords nearly the equal of Martin's. For three days, they have camped and drilled outside our walls, and their captains have broken bread with us. I instructed some of you to watch these strangers very closely. I think we've seen all that we're going to see this way. The time has come to reach a decision. Can we trust these Northlanders enough to let them into Redwall? Or do we continue to keep them outside our walls, denying them the full hospitality of our Abbey?"
"Why can't we just keep things the way they are?" Geoff asked. "It seems to have worked out well so far. At least there haven't been any unhappy incidents."
"Urthblood's troops haven't had a good washing since yesterday morning," said Vanessa. "After the way they've exercised these past two days, they'll be wanting another bath tomorrow - Urthblood said as much at dinner tonight. We all remember that rather ridiculous bucket brigade enterprise yesterday. Are we to do that again tomorrow, or shall we allow then to come into the Abbey to wash in the pond?"
Geoff spoke again. "Friar Hugh and Brother Joel are worried about the level of the pond. Those soldiers are using up an awful lot of water, even when they're not bathing. Thirstiest gang of beasts I've ever seen."
"Yes, I know," Vanessa nodded. "But it's nothing to get alarmed about just yet. The pond was very high from that storm we had. The level is still about where it should be for this time of year."
"Well, then," said Geoff, "where's the dilemma? Keep the soldiers outside, and carry water out to them like we did before. From what Lord Urthblood has told us, tomorrow should be the last bath they'll need before they leave for Salamandastron."
"This isn't about the water, Geoff. It's about trust. The question facing us now is, have we done Urthblood a disservice by mistrusting him or his motives? He is a Badger Lord, after all. If his aims are truly noble, we have dishonored him by our doubts."
"Well, Nessa, he really didn't give us any choice, did he?" Monty wiped his paws on his vest in memory of the Muffin That Was No More. "I mean, he wasn't exactly open an' forthcomin' as a guest o' this Abbey ought to've been, was he? If we were suspicious of 'im, he's only 'imself t' blame."
"Perhaps. Geoff has spoken his mind on this. I would like to hear now from those of you who have actually spent a fair amount of time with some of our guests from the north. Arlyn, why don't you start?"
The old Abbot cleared his throat. "It's all a matter of intentions," he began. "After all I've seen these last two days, I have no doubt that Lord Urthblood could have taken this Abbey by force, or caused us any amount of harm, had he so desired. We could not have stood against that army. Indeed, I cannot conceive of any force that could. He maintains that he is a friend of Redwall, our ally in this coming crisis that he predicts. So, why has he brought such a force to our gates?"
"To tame Mossflower, if it needed taming," Alex said in answer. "He came down from the far Northlands. He had no idea what he would find when he arrived here. He wanted to be ready for anything."
"That's a logical conclusion," Vanessa nodded. "But I believe our retired Abbot had the floor. Arlyn, do you agree with Alexander?"
"The question we must decide is whether we can trust Urthblood," said Arlyn. "In some things, he has not been entirely forthcoming with us. But he told us of his vermin before they arrived here, and he has hidden nothing from us since their arrival. Indeed, he could not have put them more openly on display if he'd tried. Drilling them nonstop right under our noses, inviting us to get to know their captains ... and there are many woodlanders in that force outside. Let us not forget that. They would not serve with Lord Urthblood if they doubted him in any way."
"So," the Abbess asked her old mentor, "do you deem it safe to let that army into Redwall?"
"I don't know if I can answer that, Vanessa. This is all brand new. We have never seen anything like this before. A Badger Lord who takes vermin into his service, and succeeds in having them march side by side with goodbeasts? The best we can do is judge these warriors - vermin and woodlanders alike - on their own merits, as we have been trying to do these past few days. They have caused us no harm so far, and they have certainly had the opportunity to do so."
"That they have," Alexander agreed. "The Abbot, Monty and I have been out in the thick of them several times, and we wouldn't still be here if they'd had evil intentions. But there's something else, too. All of Lord Urthblood's soldiers are highly skilled fighters - the best I've ever seen. You don't get as good as they are without a lot of training, which means a lot of dedication. That's the difference between those vermin out there and any Redwall has seen in the past: they're every bit as dedicated as Urthblood's mice and otters and hedgehogs and shrews. I don't think any black-hearted villain could show that much dedication, not even as part of an act."
Vanessa considered this, then looked to Maura. "Vermin aren't renowned for their acting abilities, that's true. But foxes are. Maura, you spent most of today with Machus and Lord Urthblood. What are your impressions of that swordsbeast?"
Maura, never one for speaking before a group, hemmed and hawed a bit as she put her thoughts in order.
"Well, I have no love to spare for foxes," she began. "I've tried to speak with Machus alone several times, but I could never really read him. He seemed earnest and polite, although he could have just been playing the part of a noble goodbeast. I'm still not completely over my suspicion of him, but after today, I see Machus differently than before."
"Why is that, Maura?"
"Um, I don't pretend to understand half of what those two talked about this afternoon. After awhile, I pretty much gave up listening, and just watched. But it wasn't Machus I spent most of the time watching; it was Lord Urthblood. You see, foxes are sly and crafty, and their ways are beyond most honest creatures. But a fellow badger, that's another story. And I can tell you this: Urthblood trusts Machus. Completely. That fox might be able to fool anybeast else, but Urthblood has a gift of prophecy. The two of them have obviously worked very closely together for many seasons. Urthblood would not be deceived by any act. So, I think Machus is what he seems."
Vanessa pursed her lips. "So, in other words, Urthblood trusts Machus, Urthblood is incapable of being deceived, therefore Machus is trustworthy."
"Um, I guess that's as good a way to put it as any," Maura nodded.
"I'm reminded of some of the stories Abellon, Tillamook and Mattoon told us last night in the gatehouse," said Vanessa. "About Urthblood's ability to penetrate into other beasts' souls, and see their true character. If he truly does possess such a gift, there is no way Machus could hide from scrutiny like that."
"Or any of the other vermin captains, for that matter," added Arlyn.
"Let us leave the subject of the vermin for now," Vanessa said, turning to her old squirrel friend. "Alex, you have grown very close to Lady Mina ... and not just because that was your assignment. Today we have all seen how she can shoot an arrow. What can you tell us about her that we might not know?"
"Well, aside from the fact that she could probably outshoot me blindfolded," said Alex, "Lady Mina is the most noble creature I have ever known. She has told me much about her home in the Northlands, and it is plain that she loves it and her fellow Gawtrybe as ... well, as deeply as we all love Redwall. She has spun tales of her ancestors and brethren ... they have a very rich history. Her brother Marinus, of whom she speaks with only the highest regard, is the current chieftain of the Gawtrybe. Mina is royalty, but she is also a skilled warrior, as is her brother. For generations the Gawtrybe have helped out other goodbeasts of the Northlands in times of need, ranging far and wide from out of their home forest. They have entered into a compact with Lord Urthblood, to aid him in his purpose however they may. They believe in what he is doing without reservation, and are loyal to the death."
Alex looked imploringly at Vanessa. "I know, the way I've been acting lately, you must be wondering whether my personal feelings for Lady Mina might be clouding my judgement. But I assure you, I've looked into her character as deeply as I could, for the sake of every friend I have here at Redwall. I think I can draw an unbiased conclusion about Mina. She and her folk would never serve an agent of evil, or serve alongside villainous creatures. I doubt Lady Mina would be able to tolerate their presence any more than Lord Urthblood would."
Vanessa nodded slowly. "You sound very certain about this, Alex, and that's good enough for me. Besides," she added with a wink, "any squirrel Lady who could so capture the fancy of our dear Alexander must be one noble and honorable creature indeed."
Alex blushed a bit and lowered his head, a slightly embarrassed smile on his lips.
The Abbess resumed her debriefing. "Let us now hear from Foremole, who has spent three evenings in deep discussion with Lord Urthblood's own Foremole from the north. Tell us, my friend, what you've learned from your counterpart."
"Burr hurr, we'm become gurt friends, 'ee 'n oi. Feel loike oi've knowed 'im alla moi loife. Uz moles're moighty fond o' 'im. Ee's a gudd moler, yurr hurr."
"Yes, I've noticed that you do seem to be getting along fabuluosly. But what has he told you of his service under Lord Urthblood?"
Foremole spread his digging claws. "Bo hurr, ee's a deddercatered beast, jus' loike oi'm deddercatered t' Redwall Habbey. Ee an' 'is Tunnerl 'n' Trencher Corps works 'ard as anybeast in't armee outsoide, but et's cuz they'm wants to. Lord Hurthblood proizes 'is moles veree hoighly. Baint ne'er goes nowhurrs wi'out 'em. They doant foight much, no zurr, moles baint got much loiken for battles an' suchloike. But they 'elps th' othurr wurriers boi diggin' fortifercasherns an' such. They seen enuff foightin' fer thurr tastes, oi reckerns."
"And what has he had to say about Urthblood himself?" Vanessa probed.
"Oi gathur ee thinks Hurthblood's jus' about as gurt a beast as ever's lived. Oi'd wager ee'd give 'is loife fer that stroipedog, yurr hurr."
"Egads!" Monty declared. "Even this badger's moles are fanatics!"
Foremole bristled a bit at this assessment. "Nay, gudd maister Monty, oi said 'deddercatered,' not 'furnattics,' no zurr."
"Yes," Vanessa said, "let us not be too quick to judge these creatures. Their attitude may seem extreme to us, but consider, how many of us here would willingly put our lives on the line for the sake of Redwall?"
"That's true," Alexander nodded, then threw a glance toward Monty. "And speaking of fanatics, didn't Abbot Arlyn speculate just today that Urthblood's otter regiment alone might have been able to defeat Cluny's horde?"
"Gee, word travels fast at this Abbey," Arlyn said wryly. "But, yes, those otters were quite impressive to watch up close. Even you have to admit, Monty, that Redwall's otters could never match them. They might seem boisterous and good-natured, but they would be death incarnate to face on the field of battle."
"Since the subject has found its way to otters," Vanessa said, "let's hear from you now, Monty. From what I gather, you are nearly as taken with them as Alex is with Lady Mina."
"Well, I'd not go that far, Nessa," Monty crossed his arms. "But ne'er did I meet an otter who wasn't a fine brawny beast, an' these from up north are just th' same in that regard. A proper crew o' stouthearted buckos, who wouldn't have no truck wi' nastybeasts, an' that's fer shore."
"You realize, that's an endorsement not only of Urthblood's otters, but also of all the vermin they serve with?" the Abbess reminded him.
Monty shrugged. "Mebbe so, but it's th' truth as I see it."
"And what about Warnokur? He's been with Urthblood a season, and seen some fighting with him. What impressions have you gotten from him?"
"Now, he an' I might have some sharp diff'rences on how to raise that young scallywag Wink," said Monty, "but Warny's a decent creature on th' whole, in spite o' th' way he treats 'is son. Never figgered that wanderin' rogue fer the enlistment type, but I gotta say, the military life seems t' be agreein' with him. Can't say I ever saw that ol' riverdog happier. S'pose he's finally found what 'ee's always been lookin' fer, an' could never find here at Redwall. Anyway, he's got a mighty high opinion o' Lord Urthblood, an' his troopers ... don't even seem t' mind the vermin much. Says they're okay fellers, once you get used to their crude ways. I've spoken with Wink alone about this, an' he says Warnokur's told him pretty much th' same. If anything's amiss with our visitin' horde, Warny's not clued into it."
Vanessa smoothed the front of her green habit. "So that's it, then. From everything that's been said, we're to trust Urthblood, because if his intentions had been evil, he would have shown it by now. We're to trust Machus and his foxes, because Urthblood trusts Machus. Our otters are fond of Urthblood's otters, our moles are fond of Urthblood's moles, Alex is beyond fondness for Lady Mina ... and we haven't even brought up his mice. Abellon has found a place in our hearts, and I for one have come to regard him as a true friend. So, does anybeast here have anything bad to say about Urthblood's soldiers? Anything at all?"
After several moments of silence, Geoff said, "It's all those vermin, Vanessa. How do we know we can trust them?"
"It's been three days, and they haven't done anything to violate our hospitality. Urthblood vouches for them. Do we continue to withhold fair treatment of them because of their species?"
"They're pretty savage fighters," said Alexander. "I for one would hate to have them inside our walls if they mean harm."
"Their battle skills do not necessarily make them untrustworthy," Arlyn pointed out. "Our otters can look pretty intimidating when they're drilling, and the squirrels of the Mossflower Patrol can be downright fearsome during their archery practices."
"But, there are so many of them," Geoff shook his head in consternation.
"I was as suspicious as anybeast here," said Maura. "But would Lord Urthblood have had his troops display their war skills so openly if he were trying to hide anything? He had to know what effect that sight would have on simple Abbeybeasts. If you ask me, it shows that's he's being open to a fault. He's going to do what he feels he must and make no apologies about it, even if it ruffles our fur and feathers a bit. That's not the way of a dishonest villain."
"Except," Alex countered, "that Machus refuses to show us the extent of his own skill, and won't even give us a reason why."
"He must have a perfectly logical explanation," Maura said. "But I tell you again, that badger trusts that fox, completely and absolutely."
"Lady Mina does too," Alex added, "and that's good enough for me."
"Which still leaves the question before us: Do we let them inside Redwall?" Vanessa ran her gaze around the study. "I think it's all been said, and the time has come for a decision. I realize that, as Abbess, the final decision must be mine and mine alone. But before I commit myself, I would like to take a vote. Shall we allow Lord Urthblood's troops inside our walls?"
Geoff asked, "Couldn't we just let the woodlanders in, the ones we know won't cause us any trouble, and make the vermin and foxes remain outside?"
"Out of the question," Vanessa shook her head. "The hospitality of Redwall must be open to all our guests, or none of them."
"Would they be disarmed at the gate before coming in?" Maura asked. "That might affect how I vote."
"Good point, Marm," said Monty. "An' would they all come floodin' in at once, or in shifts? Goodbeasts or not, I doubt that whole crew'd fit on our grounds at th' same time. Even standin' shoulder t' shoulder, they'd pack our lawns from the orchard to th' main west gate."
"They're right, Vanessa," Arlyn said. "We can't vote until we know exactly what we're voting for. We need a specific proposal: how many at a time to let in, whether to disarm them, and so forth. We might have to vote several times to come up with a plan that's acceptable to a majority of us."
"Oh, dear, this is getting more complicated than I'd wanted," said Vanessa. "Then again, it is not a simple issue. Very well. Let's discuss exactly what would be required before we'd consider letting Urthblood's troop in. We'll start with Maura's point, about whether they should be disarmed ... "
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Five minutes later, the details were all hammered out and the plan was voted on by the leaders of Redwall.
"All those in favor of allowing Urthblood's troops into the Abbey, under the conditions agreed upon, raise your paws."
Five paws went up.
"Opposed?"
Geoff glanced around self-consciously, then put up his paw. "Looks like I'm the only dissenter. Perhaps I should abstain, but I have to vote how I feel. I still don't think it would be a good idea."
"Don't feel chagrined, Geoff," Vanessa told him. "Let's hope the day never comes when anybeast at Redwall is intimidated into keeping its opinion to itself. Being in the minority doesn't mean that an opinion doesn't count for anything."
"I suspect that if Sister Aurelia had been invited into our councils, you might have had another vote to stand with yours, Geoff." Arlyn looked to the Abbess. "I notice you didn't vote either way, Vanessa."
"No, I wanted to see how all of you voted first, and take that into account. Seeing how the vote was nearly unanimous, and given my own feelings on the matter, I hereby agree with the majority. We shall let the Northlanders into Redwall, but only in groups of no more than a hundred at a time, and only in mixed groups of vermin and woodlanders. Each group will be allowed one hour to wash in the pond, stroll the grounds and help themselves to food and drink, after which they must leave to make room for the next group. In this way, all six hundred of Urthblood's soldiers will have a turn inside the Abbey by early afternoon, if we admit the first group right after breakfast.
"Additionally," she went on, "they will have to surrender their arms before they will be admitted through the wallgate. This will be done in the meadow outside the wall, and the weapons will remain there. Now, I realize that even a hundred of these troops carry the equivalent of a small armory, so we'll dispatch as many of our squirrels and otters as we need to handle this task."
Vanessa paused for breath. "Let us hope," she concluded, "that this arrangement works out well enough tomorrow so that we can keep it in place for as many days as Urthblood remains at Redwall. He wants us to trust his troops as decent creatures, and this is the next step toward that. But we will still use caution. Geoff may be the only one of us to vote against this proposal, but I think we all still share a little of his unease. If those Northlanders give us any cause to regret extending them our hospitality, they will be expelled from Redwall, by force if need be, and our gates will remain closed to them. All of them, even Abellon and Saybrook and Machus and Lady Mina."
"Even Urthblood himself?" asked Arlyn.
Vanessa sighed and gave a shrug. "I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see ... " She turned to Redwall's two chief defenders. "Alex, Monty, will you please go inform Lord Urthblood of our decision? It will soon be full dark, and I'm sure he'll want to start getting things organized for the morning. That will be quite some logistical effort, getting those soldiers broken up into smaller, mixed groups."
"Right on it, Nessa," Monty saluted, and led his squirrel friend out of the room.
Geoff shuddered. "I for one will breath a lot easier once Urthblood moves on from Redwall, and takes his vermin and foxes with him."
"I think we all will, Geoff," Vanessa agreed.
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"TIMBER!"
Alexander's warning cry was audible even up on the walltop. So was the crack of the mighty elm's trunk as the remaining unsawed width gave way and the grand tree toppled away from the Abbey, safe in its spider's web of guide ropes.
Many of the Redwallers had gathered along the ramparts to watch this latest spectacle. Lady Mina had finally convinced Alexander that the tall trees near the Abbey ought to come down, and Alexander had then convinced Vanessa, and the project proceeded quickly from there. It was the afternoon following the decision to grant Urthblood's troops access to Redwall, and the Abbeyfolk had a lot to watch.
Friar Hugh shook his head as the ancient elm came crashing down into the forest below him. "Cutting down trees that've stood nearly as long as this Abbey," he muttered. "That squirrel Lady's got our Alexander wrapped around her pretty paw. No way he'd be doing this if it weren't for her."
"Yes, it is a shame to see them go," agreed Brother Joel, standing alongside the Friar mouse. "But give Alex some credit. He wouldn't have agreed to do this without good reason. And Lord Urthblood did make a pretty persuasive argument for cutting them down." By now, that debate had made its way all throughout Redwall.
"It's giving in, plain and simple," Hugh grumbled, turning to sweep his paw at the Abbey grounds behind them. "It's capitulation, just like that sorry affair down there!"
Joel followed Hugh's gaze. Nearly a hundred of the Northland troops crowded the lawns, washing by the pond or snacking at tables which had been spread with fare for their benefit. This had been going on all morning, as Urthblood's soldiers flowed in and out of the south wallgate in shifts. Over half the army had had their turn inside Redwall, and there had been no unpleasant incidents.
"I think you're being overly dramatic, Hugh," the horticulturalist mouse said to the Friar. "Lord Urthblood's our ally. How can you surrender to an ally?"
"Look there below us, and you'll see how."
"Oh, come now," Joel waved a paw. "They're following all the rules the Abbess set for them, they haven't caused any trouble ... most of them are acting in quite a decent manner. Look, there's young Cyril right now, chatting over by the orchard with that mouse who's chained to that stoat. They seem to be getting along famously ... "
Hugh snorted. "Two beasts chained together! Reminds me of the two seasons I spent as a slave in my youth. I think that about says it all!"
"Yes, well, supposedly it was the mouse's idea, from what I've heard, so it's not like they're slaves. You're fussing about nothing, Hugh. The Abbess weighed her decision very carefully, and she wouldn't have taken this course if she'd felt the Abbey was in any danger."
"Oh, really?" Hugh said sarcastically. "Then why are all of our otters guarding the gates, and why are all of our squirrels patrolling the walltop with bows notched and ready?"
"Urthblood himself has said from the beginning that he wanted to see Redwall's defenses improved. If he had anything sinister in mind, he'd be defeating his own purpose. Nothing can go amiss, as long as we keep our eyes wide open."
"Open eyes are good ... but what if there's more going on here than meets the eye?"
"Such as?"
Friar Hugh shook his head. "I don't know. But something's not right with Urthblood, or his army. I feel it, Sister Aurelia feels it, and so does Brother Geoff. And I'll tell you what bothers me the most."
"What?"
"Where are the hares? A Badger Lord's supposed to have a whole gaggle of 'em. Now, Urthblood's a Badger Lord of Salamandastron ... but not a hare to be seen anywhere in his ranks. What kind of a Badger Lord has an army completely without hares?"
"Well, Lord Urthblood does have a brother," Joel reminded Hugh. "All the hares are at Salamandastron with him, helping to protect the coastlands. Or so I've heard."
"Oh, and I suppose there are no hares in all the Northlands?" Hugh countered. "The whole thing's just wrong." He paced over to a spot on the southeast corner of the walltop, from where he could survey both the soldiers in the meadow and those within the Abbey walls.
"Where, I repeat, are the hares?"
