Author's note: What's to say? Read on.
Chapter 8
Creeping silently behind the unsuspecting creatures, a completely dark beast jumped from tree to tree, glaring down at them with his deep dark eyes, that would frighten most any creature. He slipped his concealed dagger back up the wristband that was strapped about his arm, which the fur was slightly thicker than most creatures. He drew some slightly longer ones from his waist and jumped to the next tree, nimbly catching a branch and swinging on to the next.
The six friends continued walking, unaware of the dark beast watching them from someplace nearby. Rose wandered over to a bush and picked a berry from it.
"Mmmm, these are good. They're much etter than the ones - Aaaagghhh!" Rose stumbled bacwards,holding a paw to her heart in shock, as a dark a shape, covered completely in the shadow of a tree stood, carrying a cutlass and, and emerged from the shadows.
It was a rat.
He bared his teeth at them, and swung his cutlass forebodingly.
"Ye slew me chief, mouse. I'll get ye for it! Aaaarrrrrr!" The rat jumped at Martin, and swung his cutlass. Martin ducked and jumped back, and stood up. The rat raised his cutlass again, before he stopped, and put a puzzled look on his face. He staggered a pace, and fell flat, before bursting into a white light that had taken many creatures already. Martin had enough light to see a completely different dark figure in the trees, that dashed away at a moments notice. He took not notice of it, thinking that the lights were playing tricks on him, and leaned down to where the rat used to be.
"I wonder what could've killed him—Aaa?!" Martin stared curiously at the long dagger the was lying on the ground, where the rat once was.
It was a very strange looking dagger, being completely black, and having rings attached to the sides of the hilt, where it met the blade. A sharp gasp caught Martin's attention, and he looked up.
There, standing over them, was a strange looking squirrel. He was painted completely black, wore a black tunic, and had extremely thick fur. His tail was long and, though smooth. He held his paw out, speaking in a emotion-free voice.
"I believe you have something of mine?" He said.
Martin nodded silently. He held out the dagger by the blade, for him to take. The squirrel reached out to take it, but Martin pulled it back. The squirrel tapped his footpaw against the ground indignantly.
"Why aren't you giving me the dagger? It's mine. I made them."
Martin cocked his head to one side."Them?"
The squirrel shook his head. "I have many more than that, hidden in my fur, and in my belt."
Martin gazed the quirrel up and down, seeing no sign of blade or hilt anywear in his fur or belt.
"It seems as though you have forgotten them, because I see none in your belt." Martin said.
Once again, the squirrel shook his head. "Like I said, they are concealed. Watch."
He reached a hand into his fur and pulled six dagger from beneath the belt. He then slipped his hands up his arms and legs, taking dagger out of the left and right sides. He pulled a dagger by the hilt from the back of his tunic, and opened up the front of the tunic, to reavel six more, dangling by the rings that were attached to the hilt. He curled up his tail, and plucked two from the long hair on it. All six creatures gawped at him. He finally showed some sign of emotinon, which he smiled.
"I have a total of about 24 daggers on me; 23, if you don't include the one you have taken from me." He indicated a space on the front of his right arm.
Martin nodded. "What is your name?" he asked, still wanting to find out more about this curious squirrel.
The squirrel sighed. "Many beasts call me Nokin. They make it stand for 'No kin', because I have no family, or at least, none that I know of. I casted off that name, and now call myself Sauvin. I am a professional assassin."
Martin nodded again. "Why are you here?"
Sauvin began gathering his daggers back up, and placing them where they once were, rumpling up fur here and there, to make it look natural. Pallum gawped in awe at how well they were concealed.
"I have always thought, that now that I was dead, that I would never see another rat, weasel, or vermin of any kind again. This was a good world for as long as I was here, until I found a rat lurking around my territory. I did not know if I could kill him, as we are already dead, but I tried... It worked. Anyways, I have been tracking them down, one by one. Any vermin on their own, or in small groups are easy.
"I watched the recent battle from a tree. I helped, by using my knife-throwing skills. You, mouse, are a great warrior. I can tell by your eyes, and by the way you fought that large beast. I was about to take him out with my knife, when I saw you confront him like that. You are very brave." He said.
Rose smiled and shook his paw warmly. "You are welcome at our feast tonight. Come if you wish, but do not feel obliged."
Sauvin nodded. "I may drop in if I have the time. Good bye!" He did a backwards somersault, and flipped into the trees gracefully, latching onto a branch and shooting up it with great speed.
Ben stickle shook his head in amazement. "Did you see that?! He went up that tree like lightning! I don't think tha if I practiced every day for my entire life here, that I would ever be able to do such a thing!"
Martin smiled.
"And I bet that if he practiced for the rest of his time here, that he would never be able to make pies as well as you. Come on, let's get to the city hall. I'm hungry!"
The clutter of chairs and tables were all that could be heard over the constant orders of the cooks and Ben and Goody stickle.
"Come, bring those apples over here! We need more of them in Goody's pie!"
"Move along now Tibble; we don't need any help stirring the meadowcream!"
"Hmmph! No 'aspect for'm a good coock 'dese days!"
"Tubble! Put that knife down before you hurt yourself!"
"Hmmph! No tell me, da' gweat Tubble, whatta do! Owwa! Getcha fiwthy paws offa me!"
"Somebeast turn the ovens off!"
"Ooch, that smells good!"
"Paws off, Ben! Those are for the feast!"
Rose spun her beaker on the table playfully, holding Martin's paw. Urran Voh eyed her scornfully out of the corner of his eye from where he was sitting.
Everybeast applauded as Grumm's stew was brought out in a large cauldron on a rolling table. Grumm stood happily pushing it along, the cook's hat weighing down slightly over his eyes. A team of dibbuns were parading around the room, chanting
Scones, cakes, pasties, ales!
Mice with no fur, squirrels without tails!
Welcome to the feast!
Let us eat now, everybeast!
Roes hummed the tune to herself over and over again, Martin tapping his feet to the screwed up beat and timing. The comical tune swung up and down, each time hitting a high note, and then a low note causing many of the parents to cringe. All the commotion was stopped, when Ben and Goody stickle emerged with Urran Voh, and all went silent. Urran Voh took a step forward, between the two long table that were set along the middle of the hall, and bowed.
"There is no need for explanation, wwhy we are here tonight, so let me cut this speech short. Let's eat!" This was followed by a rousing cheer that filled the air. The clattering of dishes, and chatter here and there.
Pallum grinned through mouthfuls, as he scoffed his food down endlessly. He piled scones and pasties onto his plate, calling out here and there.
"Ooh! Pass some o' that october ale! It goes mighty well with cones! Pass that bowl of meadowcream so I can put it on my pie. Thank you, Grumm; I do appreciate the stew."
Martin laughed and pushed a bowl of meadowcream towards him.
Turning, and watching through a mouthful, he watched a small band of hares putting down food so quickly, you couldn't see any food within paws reach that hadn't been put on their plates. One took a small break to say something.
"I say, jolly good tucker here, eh, wot?!"
The hares agreed.
"Absolutely top hole, wot wot!"
"Ouch! The blinkin' mole has nipped my paw! Shoo, ye' little 'un!"
A tiny infant mole ran around the bench, biting paws, trying to take the food off them. Rose hurried over.
"Murrsel! Don't bite peoples paws! You have your own food!"
The molemaid shook her head.
"Hurr'm, oi doan't t'ink so, marm. Ti'lle anna tu'lle keep a' 'teelin h'et!"
Rose shook her head in despair.
"Those two again? What am I going to do with them..." She hurried over to where the dibbuns were eating, waving her paws.
"Tibble! Put down that bowl! Tubble-... where's Tubble?" She looked around, trying to find the baby mouse.
"Where's Tubble?!" She roared aloud. She was answered by a call from above her head.
"Up 'ere, Rose. I' gonna jump inna bowl o' meadowcream! Watcha!" Tibble said, walking along a beam, which wasset up directly over the meadowcream bowl.
"Tubble! You get down from there this very instant! Don't you move from there!" Tubble shook his head.
"My name 's not Tubble. I's Tibble! Dontcha forget it!" Rose gave a quick look glance away, which was all the infant mouse needed. He jumped from the beam, directly into the large meadowcream bowl, sending meadowcream everywhere. Rose roared unhappily at him, wiping cream from her back.
"Tubb- er... Tibble! That's it! Straight to bed with you, after a bath! Jumping into the meadowcream like that, right after I told you not to is disgraceful! Hmmph!"
Tubble giggled.
"Gorra catch me first!" He jump from the table, only to be caught in the hands of a frightening black squirrel, who was hanging from the beam next to where Tibble had just jumped from. The mousebabe was very surprised, flailing his arms unhappily.
"Noooooo!" His infant voice roaring piteously, "Lemme go, ya filthy squiwwel! Aaaaah!" He finally caught the scary eyes of the black squirrel holding him up by the neck of his shirt.
Rose sighed with relief, licking meadowcream from her paws. Martin, Grumm, and Pallum rushed over.
"Sauvin! What are you doing here?" Martin asked.
Sauvin handed the raging baby mouse to Rose, who carried him away, scorning him, as the infant wailed.
"Noooo! Lemme go! Don't worra baff!"
"Bath and bed for you, Tibble! No exceptions!"
Sauvin finally gave his answer.
"It is kind of funny why you ask me why I'm here, and yet it was you who invited me! Tell me, is that not strange?"
Martin smiled. "Hmmmm, I guess you're right! Oh well, are you hungry friend?"
Sauvin shook his head, patting his stomach, as if satisfied.. "Oh no. I have already eaten my fill."
Martin puzzled for a moment, then shrugged. Sauvin grinned at him.
"I stole from the kitchens. These hedgehogs have the best meadowcream that has ever touched my tongue, don't you agree?" He said, playing with the blades of one of his knives.
"It is just as good as the meadowcream they made for me when we were alive. They were once our friars at Redwall Abbey, in mossflower woods." Martin replied, watching the dagger in Sauvins paws as he twirled it around and around with a finger of his paw through the ring. He tossed it nimbly in the air, held out his paw, where it slipped back into the wristband that once held it tight. Martin noticed Rose watching from a distance. She shook her head in amazement at the antics of the squirrel.
She walked over to them, wiping her paws together happily.
"I'm glad that's taken care of. Sauvin, I have something to ask you..."
Sauvin half turned, listeniong, but Rose could not tell if he was or not.
"Would you like to be in the talent show tonight? There will be a prize for the winner. It's a big gold cup, filled with candied chestnuts that have been soaking for a week in honey. I'm sure you would like them."
Sauvin shook his head.
"I don't know. Do you think they would appreciate my work? After all, they do seem like peaceful creatures."
Rose shook his paw.
"I'm sure they would love to se your knife throwing skills. We all would like to see you at your best tonight!"
Sauvin consideered for a moment, than shrugged and nodded. "I guess so."
"Good!" Rose said happily, "I'll tell them to start it now. Father!" She turned and skipped away, calling to her father.
Sauvin turned back to Martin. "She must be the prettiest mousemaid I have ever seen. Don't you agree, Martin?"
Martin shrugged, trying to change the subject.
"Do you think I should be in the show? Oh no, I can't. I don't have a sword to use. Too bad."
Sauvin smirked.
"Quit trying to change the subject and answer me, smitten one."
Martin glared at him and dealt a quick, playful blow to the squirrels stomach.
Sauvin took a moment to regain composure and gasped.
"You need to learn to control your strength, Martin. I felt the wind being blown from me."
The high humming of talking died down, as Urran Voh took a stand and placed it up by the front of the long room. He had redressed, wearing a deep green tunic and fancy black cloak. The black hat on his head had a red feather sticking out, making him look slightly roguish.
"Good evening creatures, woodlanders, visitors, and all other beasts here tonight!" He announced, "Tonight we hold our first annual Talent show. Will all contestants please come up and stand behind the line here?" He indicated a long white line of paint along the ground.
Martin gave a reluctant Sauvin a hefty push, sending him staggering forward up to the line. Many other creatures carried flutes, batons, and poles. Sauvin was the only one who seemed unequipped.
The judges were sitting at their own table. One judge was a stout hedgehog with a monocle, which kept falling off, and a tall, brawny sat next to him, playing with the feather in his hat. The third and final judge was a mouse, who looked considerably wise, even though he looked very young.
Urran Voh nodded appreciateivly to the contestants, but gave a sharp glance at the suspicious Sauvin, who did not have anything to work with.
"Perhaps acrobats, or singing? No, he wouldn't sing. He does not look like the singing type. Yes, it is probably acrobats." Urran Voh thought to himself. He went along the line, and randomly picked a creature from the end of the line, who was carrying a reed flute.
He went up the three stairs to, and onto the stand. He put his flute up to his lips, and began a deep, mournful tune. The hedgehog swayed back and forth,pausing her and there to take a breath, though keeping a straight pace the entire song. He finished by pulling out a wooden stick, carved into a toy knife, and pretended to shove it deep within his belly. Putting on a face of ghastly despair, he fell to his knees. He held out one paw dramatically, and fell, hitting his spikey head against the floor.
The audience cheered, and the hedgehog stood up and bowed low. Urran Voh pointed to the next contender. The judges nodded appreciativly
Creature by creature, the competetors line grew thin, One of the contenders being Rose, whos singing caught all newcomers completely off-guard, and they watched her in awe. As the last of her notes droned out into the distance, only three contestants remained.
There were two otters, and Sauvin, still waiting. Urran Voh pointed to one otter, but they both went in front of the stand, each carrying a pole and an apple, one red, one green. The put their backs to each other,and walked ten paces, before turning. They both lifted their poles by the tip, and began dashing towards each other. At about ten paces apart, they pushed their poles into the ground and vaulted themselves through the air, while switching apples in mid air. They landed about twenty fet apart, and bowed, each taking a bite out of their apple.
Sauvin squirmed slightly as Urran Voh pointed at him. He ascended the stairway, and looked out at the many creatures watching him, some of them suspicious.. He finally gained enough composure to speak, "May I have a volunteer from the audience? Er... Not many takres then, I guess."
One creature gasped as Urran Voh stood up from his chair nearby.
"I will be your volunteer." He said calmly.
Sauvin nodded and grinned.
Urran Voh went up the stairs and stopped in front of Sauvin, who beckoned him to stand against the wall.
Martin and his friends watched with great interest, knowing exactly what he was going to do. He watched the suspicious face of Urran Voh, leaning against the wall, paws flat against it as well.
Turning towards the crowd, Sauvin lifted his paws.
"With the slightest flick of my finger, this mouse will be pinned agaisint the wall!" He announced. Urran Voh did not have time to move. Sauvin made his knife llok as if it had materialized out of thin air, and, whirling it,flicked itstraight at the mouse chieftain. There was a resounding thud, and the knife pinned the mouses cloak directly to the wall, but not before the whirling arms of Sauvin sent two more blades, burying themselves in the hat of Urran Voh, and another piercing the slightly large boots he was wearing.
The croud gasped. Sauvin removed four more blades from his belt and begantwirling them around his fingers. One by one he threw the knives in the air, catching them and throwing them again. They creatures gasping eventually mixed with applauding, and then turned to applauding all around, as more knives added to the juggling act. They were unsure where the knives were coming from, but they were well entertained. Eventually twenty-one knives werebeing hurled up, being caught and thrown, caught and thrown, all over again.
With a swish of his cloak, Sauvin vanished, and the knives he was carrying disappeared as well. Only the three knives imbedded in Urran Voh's clothing remained. The crowd was completely silent. The act that had just occurred was indeed very startling, though skillful. They looked around for someone to applaud to, but the squirrel was gone.
Urran Voh was still pinned against the wall, shaking with fear that the squirrel might come back, which was answered by a sudden shattering of silence from the other end of the hall.
"Excuse me. May I have my knives back?" Sauvin appeared from nowhere, standing in the middle of the hall. There was a moment's silnce, and then wild applause. Creatures cheered the blade-throwing squirrel on for more. Sauvin quickly obliged. Removing from his tail the longest blad he had, he hurled it along the hall, cutting the cake at the end of the table in half. The dibbuns squealed in fright, and then jumped on the cake, taking large bites here and there. They were quickly stopped by a nursemaid otter, who removed them from the cake and scolded them.
Sauvin took a low bow, and the judges presented him with gifts of candied chestnuts and a gold cup. He took the cup gratefully, and unexpectedly threw a chestnut in the air. He flicked his wrist, and a knife appeared in his hand. Taking practically no time to aim, he threw it at the chestnut, splitting it in two. One piece fell into his mouth, and the other landed in the hair of an unsuspecting hairmaid.
"Eek! Get it off me!" She brushed her paws through her hair wildly. Sauvin laughed, happily answering questions.
"What's your name?"
"Sauvin."
"Why haven't I seen you in our village before?"
"I'm not from around here."
"How many knives do you have hidden in your fur, Sauvin?"
"Oh, about twenty four, if I counted correctly."
"Why are the knives painted black, Sauvin?"
"Well, I wouldn't blend in with my fur if they were silver like normal blades, would they?"
"What are those rings near the hilt for, Mr. Sauvin?"
"They're for spinning the knife when I pull it from my wristband!"
"Why couldn't I hear the knives when you threw them, Mr. Sauvin?"
"I forged them so they were aerodynamic, and you couldn't hear them when they're thrown, which means I can keep the element of surprise in a hit and run battle at night."
This continued the entire night, Martin, Grumm, Pallum, and Rose watching their friend from a distance. Urran Voh still struggling to remove himself from the wall. They could not hear him roaring aloud, for the squirrel was getting all the attention.
"Get me off this wall! Do you hear me?! Get me off!"
My brother and I are still arguing over what the name of Sauvin should be. He wanted it to be 'Sorin Waveblade', but it sounded too much like a squirrel who is a swordmaster, rather than a blade thrower. The name 'Sauvin', however sounds sly, and does not imply that he uses swords as a hand weapon. If you have an opinion, just put it in the reviews.
