By the way, Coalecses Kefgahn's army. I thought of a name for them, yay.

Chapter Nine

Mattimeo paced back and forth across the main room in the gatehouse, his paws clasped behind his back and his face set in stern compassion as he worries about his son, somewhere on Mossflower Wood. Tess sat at the table, holding her head in one paw and tapping the table with the other. Her eyes watched her claws drumming the table, slowly rising and falling. She sighed.

"You know, Matti, you can't really blame him. He's no different than you were, really."

Mattimeo paused, suddenly fascinated by a knot in the floorboard. "I know, I know. He's…he's too much like me. I'm starting to feel for my parents." He gave a weak smile.

Tess spread her paw out on the table, turned it over, and balled it into a fist. While she was distracting herself, Mattimeo started pacing around the room again. She raised her eyes from the table, and watched him as he paced the room, still in his day tunic. Absentmindedly, her gaze turned to the door, vainly hoping her son would walk through the door. Knowing he wouldn't, she started tapping her paws again.

Already agitated with his thoughts, he couldn't take the extra sound in the background. He stopped pacing again, only to turn and growl at his wife. "Tess, please! Must you make that noise? I'm trying to think!"

Placing both paws on the table, she stood up. "Matthias Methuselah Mortimer, don't you ever talk like that to me! I'm just as worried about our son as you are!"

Taken aback by her outburst, but still angry, he shouted back. "My son's out there, in Mossflower, amongst the foxes that pilfer and soil my country! He took my sword! Yet you don't think I worry more than you?"

Slanting her eyes in anger, Tess spat back at him. "In case you didn't see, I was out there today, too! I saw them and I saw what they can do, thankyouverymuch." She sighed and folded her arms across her chest. "But like I said, Martin's like you. He may do these stupid things, but at least he knows what he's doing. Whatever it is."

Mattimeo couldn't respond, he didn't know what he would say if he did. Tess saved him from that…in a sense.

"I'm not stupid, you know. I know you two are up to something, or at least you know something I don't. I also know it has something to do with that horde of vermin. Now you tell me, what is it you are getting at? What is he really doing right now?"

Watching his wife's body tense for the worst, he instantly felt bad about raising his voice. He walked around the table to his wife, sat down and tapped the chair next to him with his paw. "Sit down, Tess, it's not really a long story, but it seems like it. And yes, it's about the horde of vermin, but mostly about a young mousemaid named Vaneeya."

Tess sat transfixed as she listened to her husband tell her about her son, and the vermin-raised maid that he had left their Abbey for.

X

After they had walked a fair distance, with Martin holding her paw to keep her balanced, and with her holding his sword belt in to place to stop her bleeding, they started a conversation. Up until that point, they'd been silent, the same thoughts passing through each of their minds unspoken.

As they neared the path, Vaneeya started to voice her growing opinions and doubts.

"They probably saw me, you know, in the back today. They probably haven't even buried those I killed."

Martin cringed. He didn't want to think about the dead he had seen after the war, the creatures that had been killed by the very paw he was holding.

"They'll probably recognize me."

Martin shook his head and comforted her with reassuring words. "No, they won't. Like you said, you were in the back."

She paused for a moment, and then continued. "They'll see how different I am. I didn't see a single maid wearing what I am. A short black tunic…long black cape…I look like vermin, like…" She paused and looked down at herself. "I look like what I am."

Shaking his head, he waited for her to continue.

"I don't smell very good either, and haven't bathed in a while, and I haven't eaten much, and, and… You know as much as I do, Martin, that they won't like me!"

Martin smiled. "That's not true. All of that can be fixed in mere hours in Redwall. We'll clothe, bathe, and feed you. Redwall can't decline a creature, Vaneeya, they'll accept you. You just can't tell them who you are. Well, you can't tell them you fight under Kefgahn."

Vaneeya shook her head. "No, I won't tell them. But I still will. Fight with Kefgahn, I mean."

Martin turned to her, not understanding.

"I can't stay in Redwall long, I'll leave, you know. Maybe even before morning. I can't just come and disappear. Martin…" she took his other paw and stopped them both. "You should know something. I think you know it now, but you don't want to admit it. I am vermin. I always will be. No amount of goodbeasts will change that. No amount of water and soap. No amount of learning. I will always be evil. I am loyal to Kefgahn, and I am loyal to all the fighters in the Coalesce. It is impossible to be loyal to your Abbey as well."

Martin tried to gulp in air, but found it difficult. He shook his head, unable to speak.

"You can take me to Redwall, you can introduce me to all of your friends. But come a battle, I will be on the other side."

He blinked away the moisture from his eyes, knowing that that truth had come to surface. Coughing to speak, he whispered. "Why do you put all you are behind, just to be with me?"

Vaneeya smiled a small smile, and focused her eyes on his paws. "Because of how I feel for you. And love brings out a part of me that hate never did." She met his eyes then, and took both of her paws from his. She walked forward, heading up the path to Redwall, which stood close on their horizon.

Martin watched as she walked ahead of him, unable to figure her out. Shaking his head, trying to understand her, he followed her.

X

Back in Kefgahn's camp, Dosimay sat outside the seer's tent, slowly sharpening her knife. She drew her whetstone up and down the short length of the blade, sharpening it to a lethal point. Smiling, she drew the blade up to her mouth and blew on it.

Mali came out of her tent, standing wordlessly outside the flap and watching the young fox. Dosimay turned toward her.

"Is there something you would have me do, Mali?"

The seer shook her head.

Dosimay's eyes searched Mali over, and saw nothing to unusual—for her, at least. Shrugging, she turned back to her knife.

Mali slid down to the ground beside her. "Where is Vaneeya, Dosimay?"

Sneering, Dosimay drew the whetstone sharply up the blade and hit her paw. She winced. "Dead, for all I care. I never understood why we had a mouse with us anyway."

Mali's paw flew up and hit the younger vixen across the face. "How dare you say something like that, you young fool! I care if she's dead or alive, and you should, too. After all this is over we can dispose of her, but we need her to help you."

Dosimay held a paw to her face, also using it to hide the anger in her eyes. "How?" she growled.

Mali snorted. "Methinks you know the answer to your own question."

Turning to the other direction, Dosimay whispered to herself. "I do. But shouldn't you have known long before, seer?"

Mali laughed loudly; causing all those camped nearby to look in their direction. Once they all looked away, Mali snatched Dosimay's paw and turned her back to herself. Dosimay winced as severe pain coursed through her arm. "Of course I know, Miss Impudence. You know she likes a Redwall creature, don't you?"

Dosimay nodded, not even trying to hide the hatred in her eyes.

"Do you know that he is the son of their warrior? That I couldn't have hoped for a better one to fall for her? He'll work perfectly! Do you even know his name, Dosimay? I do. Martin. Do you know as much?"

She just shook her head, now interested.

"Do you know why I let them go, now?"

She shook her head again.

"Because the closer they get, the more they love each other. The more they love each other, the more they'll do for each other. Vaneeya isn't as good as you think, she'll stay with us, and she won't permanently leave. At least, not yet. But soon that mouse lad will do anything for her, as she will him. That only helps our position, if we work it right. See?"

She nodded this time.

"Now, when Vaneeya comes back tomorrow, she'll tell you that she feinted in the woods because of the wound you inflicted on her. Though she won't say it was you. She'll make something up about a tree branch or a stray woodlander. We'll both agree."

Dosimay raised her voice. "Why do you let her go and do whatever she wants?"

Mali barked. "You will do as I say, won't you?"

Rolling her eyes, she nodded.

"You thank me, missie, when you rule the Coalesces. Don't think I enjoy for one minute helping you rule instead of my son. But my son is a fool. So I help you. You are a fool, Dosimay, whether you admit it or not. You act touch around others, at least you can do that. But you will do as I say until you wear the battle gear of the Warlord." Mali let go of her paw then, hastily stood, and walked back into her tent.

Dosimay stewed her anger while sharpening her knife. She was brought back to reality when the point pricked her leg. Her knife was more than sharp enough.

X

Back at Redwall, Martin knocked on the door, dreading to know the reception he'd receive. Vaneeya stood behind him, her hood drawn over her face.

Mattimeo and Tess had been sitting; holding each other's paws, waiting without a sound. As Martin knocked, Tess breathed a sigh of relief and Mattimeo jumped up and ran toward the gatehouse door, ran out and opened the main gate.

Martin saw the look on his father's face and he stepped back, almost expecting an instant punishment. Mattimeo just looked over his son to make sure he was well, then turned his eyes to Vaneeya—not altogether approvingly.

"Vaneeya, you should go into the gatehouse, my wife will take you there…you're hurt!" Mattimeo found himself unable to hide his worry for her. He knew she was evil, but also knew that no matter the truth he would have to be there for the one his son cared for.

Vaneeya shook her head beneath her cowl. "I'm fine, sir, really."

Martin took her paw. "No, you're not. Go with my mum, Vaneeya, she'll take care of you."

Tess stepped forward and took Vaneeya's paw, looking over her for the first time.

When they had gone, Mattimeo turned back to his son. "I won't ask you to explain; I already know. And I won't ask you to apologize; it's not necessary. I also won't punish you; you're old enough to make your own decisions. But, the next time you steal—no, sorry, that's too harsh—take my sword and run off into Mossflower on a fools errand, would you please tell me?" Mattimeo smiled.

Martin couldn't believe he wasn't getting punished. He smiled back at his dad. "You know if I told you I was going then you wouldn't let me."

Mattimeo chuckled. "You're probably right."

Growing serious faced again; Martin looked his dad in the eye. "You always said I was like you, but you never did, you know, what I'm doing. With a vermin mousemaid, and…"

Mattimeo shook his head. "We can't be exactly the same, son. You know that."

Martin hung his head. "You must think I'm horrible, don't you?"

Again, he shook his head. "No. I think you're crazy and headstrong, but you're also one heck of a brave. I wouldn't have gone to their camp if you'd paid me. Just looking at their army in the protection of our walls took the breath out of me."

Martin smiled. "Do you approve of us?"

Mattimeo's eyes turned to stone. "No."

Martin's smile fell.

"I don't. At least, not yet."

X

"There. I've taken my husband's belt off you, and I've dressed this wound up as good as I can. That's all I can do for now, I'm afraid. Oh my goodness, Vaneeya, you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen."

Vaneeya averted her eyes as Tess said it, looking instead around the Gatehouse cottage. Turning back to Tess, she smiled. "You have the most beautiful home I have ever seen." She didn't mention that it was the only one she had ever seen.

Tess turned and walked through a door on the other side of the main room. She came back a few moments later with a short blue tunic. As Tess looked at it, her eyes clouded with memory. "This was my Matti's when he was younger. He outgrew it pretty fast. It's Martin's now, but he doesn't wear it much. Personally, I don't think he wants to hurt me by saying that he's outgrown it, too."

"How could he hurt you by saying that?"

Tess smiled. "Martin's my baby. He'll always be my baby. But he's going to be a grown beast, too, and when he is, that's when I have to let my baby go."

Vaneeya's heart warmed at Tess' comment. She wondered if her mother had felt that way about her. For the few minutes she had had before she died.

Tess shook her head and came back to the present. "Here you go, Vaneeya. I think you're small enough to fit in this. I would give you one of my dresses, but I can tell you aren't the dress type. I wasn't, either, when I was young."

Vaneeya smiled and took the blue tunic when it was handed to her. Some threads were missing, and it was sewn and patched in places. It was soft from seasons of wear. She drew it to her face and sniffed it. It smelled like spring rain.

"You can go into his room and change into it, if you want."

The maid smiled and walked past the mousewife, heading towards the open door. Tess' paw fell on her shoulder.

"I was mending it, again. That's our bedroom, Matti's and mine. Martin's is up the stairs."

"Which door then?"

Tess smiled. "There are no doors. The top of the stairs is the door, in a way. Up there it's only one room."

Vaneeya nodded her appreciation. "Thank you." With that, she turned and walked to the other end of the room and climbed the stairs. Her paw slid along the smooth wood of the banister, her footpaws treading the worn wood of the steps. She was elated. She'd never walked up stairs before.

As her footpaw touched the top stair, she found herself standing in on the side of a large room. She stepped up again on the floor, and looked around.

The room was sparsely decorated. There was a bed in the opposite corner. It has a quilt lying across it. He had a stack of pillow on one end and a folded blanket on the other. Beside his bed was a small table, on which stood a candle, two pieces of flint, and a book. Vaneeya walked over and picked the book up. She passed her claw along the lined of the words on the spine of the book. She was thankful at that moment for Mali. The seer wouldn't have let her pass childhood without being literate. The book, apparently, was about The History of the Mice of Loamhedge by somebeast named Brother Lorbit. Setting it down, she walked over to a dresser, over which hung a round mirror. On the top of the dresser were two more books, a black belt and a white cord girdle, a comb made out of a shell, and a glass of water, half-full. Vaneeya picked up both books. They were similar to the one she found on the nightstand, one was an ancient book, called The Founding of Redwall Abbey by Abbes Germaine, the other, a new book, recently written, simply entitled Malkariss by Mattimeo. Vaneeya put the other book down and studied the newer one. Martin's father had written a book? She set everything back where they were, knowing she would read it later.

She saw a desk sitting underneath a window, a small chair beside it, and on the opposite side of the room, under another window, was a large overstuffed chair. Knowing that she had spent a lot of time in his room already, she changed.

She pulled the blue tunic around her. It was tight in some areas, loose in others; she could tell it was a lad's tunic. However, the fabric was soft and smooth, unlike anything she had worn before. She wore Martin's cord girdle around her waist—it, too, was soft. In her arms she held her black tunic and her black cape. When she came down to the main room again, Tess was sitting at the table staring emptily at the staircase. When she saw Vaneeya, she smiled tiredly and straitened up. "Something told me it wouldn't fit you right, but that's all I had I here."

Vaneeya shook her head. "No, no, it's fine, thank you."

At that moment, Mattimeo and Martin walked in the door. Mattimeo looked as tired as his wife did, though Martin was wide awake.

Mattimeo looked toward Tess. "It's midnight, you know. I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I'm going to bed." He glanced at Martin over his shoulder, turned, kissed his wife on the cheek and stumbled to his bedroom. Tess hugged Martin and followed him.

Martin and Vaneeya were alone the main room. Vaneeya smiled up at him. "I see you enjoy reading."

He smiled. "I always have. It's a weakness."

Vaneeya shook her head. "No, not a weakness, a strength. I know how to read, but I know nobeast who has a book. I might have to borrow yours."

Martin laughed. "You can borrow anything you want from me. Come on, now, we'll feed you. I'm sure the Friar has something for breakfast set out that you can have now. Once you've eaten, I can walk you around the Abbey."

Vaneeya smiled. "I'd like that."

X

Mattimeo watched them talking through the keyhole. Once they'd left, he turned back to Tess. "I feel bad saying it, but I don't think I like her."

Tess nodded. "I feel the same, though she is decent enough, don't you think."

"Enough, yes." Mattimeo fell down on his bed, his paws behind his head.

Tess fell down beside him. "You aren't really tired, are you?"

Shaking his head, he replied. "Nope, wide awake. All I can do is think about this. This hasn't happened before. Not in Redwall."

Tess leaned her head on his shoulder. "Maybe they're meant to alter the course of the future; change something."

They both stared off into space, digesting Tess' words.