I have returned! Ok . . . I might be a little slower than before, but I will start updating again.
Guest review:
King's Critic: Hello! I am very glad you liked the little peek into Gonff's mind. I was experimenting. The ending of Martin the Warrior makes me cry everytime I read it. I LOVE THAT BOOK IT IS MY FAVORITE ONE OF ALL THE REDWALL BOOKS!
Ivvilynne: thank you! I have now updated, so I hope you can continue to enjoy it.
Disclaimer: i do not own Redwall, or most of the characters. The villains are mine.
Chapter 9
Raxil was frustrated. Of course, this seemed to be becoming a normally emotion for him.
The leader of the peaceful valley dwellers hadn't bothered to respond to his note. In fact, Raxil's messenger had not returned, so either he was a prisoner, or dead.
Of course, that didn't necessarily bother the war lord, but he was annoyed that the leader of these rebels would dare to kill a messenger of his. It was like they knew that he would do the same, and were taunting him by beating him at his own game.
The white fox's name was Krinch. He was ancient enough to have been old when he served under Raxil's father. He had never spoken a word to any creature, which was possibly why both foxes trusted him with everything.
And yet Krinch did not trust anyone. He was exceptionally good at his job, and knew that the others in the horde either envied him or really wanted to kill him. He was guessing it was the latter, seeing as he was sometimes used as an assassin, killing whatever creature that Raxil felt was unnecessary.
This didn't earn Krinch any friends, but he wasn't really one for friends anyways. He was just going to do as Raxil wished him to.
At least until the right moment came.
Krinch watched slyly as the war lord continued to rant about the mysterious valley leader, shaking his head. His time would come, and when it did, Krinch would be ready.
Krinch was always ready.
~~O~~
Brome and his friends were in the middle of dinner, as well as a war meeting.
The council consisted of Brome, Rowanoak, Tullgrew, Trefoil, Kastern, Celandine, Buckler, Yarrow, and finally, the ancient squirrel Barkjon.
It was a miracle he was still alive, but the stubborn old creature refused to die. It was as though he was trying to live out all of the seasons that his son, Felldoh should have had.
Normally more creatures were members of the council, but They had many recent losses. Groot, a mouse who'd been with them since Marshank, had been killed in the first attack, leaving his wife, Purslane, his son Fuffle, and two new young mouse babes.
Bungo, Grumm's nephew, was in the infirmary, terribly injured. It was unsure whether or not the mole would live.
Teaslepaw, Pallum's wife, had been captured, along with Ballaw, Gauchee, and Kelya. Gumbler the mole was injured, but healing, although Brome wouldn't allow him to be at the meeting.
So despite the fact that they had a good amount of creatures for a war council, the table felt empty without the various friends and family who were missing.
Rowanoak was speaking, and she was angry. The entire Rambling Rosehip players had been basically torn apart. Gauchee was a prisoner. Ballaw was dead by this point. It had been confirmed.
There was no sign of him in Raxil's camp, and there was no sign of him when they went looking in the woods.
Their group was shattered. Rowanoak and Ballaw formed the Rosehip players together, and without one of their founding members, and with several of the others prisoners, it didn't seem as though they would ever play again.
Brome tried to pay attention to what the female badger was saying, but it was hard when his thoughts kept slipping to his patients and his dead or missing friends.
"I say we form a plan, and act accordingly! We must get these vermin out of here as quick as we can! There is no way we will last long without some form of strategy, and if we sit here and do nothing, I will be unable to restrain myself. I cannot sit here and watch as another creature dies needlessly." Rowanoak was saying furiously.
"Rowanoak, I understand that you are upset, but we must think about this." Barkjon's voice sounded sad, and Brome cast a glance at the old squirrel. He was probably thinking of Feldoh, just like Brome was.
"We cannot go rushing into a battle, we don't have enough strength, and very few of our creatures have ever seen a weapon before." Brome added, standing to face the huge badger. "I think the best thing to do would be to be on defense until help comes. We both know that Grumm will not give up until he can return with help."
Rowanoak hesitated, and Brome winced at the pain in her eyes. But Celandine lay a gentle paw on top of Rowanoak's big rough one, and the badger sighed and sat down.
"Fine. I will concede to the will of the council. Brome, I hope you know what you're doing here, because this is the choice between life and death." She muttered.
Brome closed his eyes. "I know." He answered softly. "Believe me, I know."
As the council began to break up, the remaining members of the Rambling Rosehip players lingered, staying behind with Brome.
"Brome, ignore me. I spoke foolishly." Rowanoak muttered, putting her heavy paw on the young mouse's shoulder. "I know you are feeling the pressures of leading us, and I spoke out of turn. It's just . . . I can't believe . . ." She faltered, her dark eyes filled with grief.
Celandine took out a lacy cloth that was tucked into the sleeve of her dress and dabbed at her eyes. Trefoil and Kastern blinked as though holding back tears, and Buckler hid his face.
Brome sighed. "I am not angry Rowanoak. I understand why you want to attack, but I think that with our numbers, and our lack of experience it is better for us to just leave it as it is."
"You'm be rioght Maister Brome. We baint strong enough t' stop all 'ee villyuns. Oi 'ope Grumm be's having more luck than we'm are." Buckler said, and the small group fell silent as they thought about their missing mole friend.
But although they were silent, their minds were moving fast. And each of them had the same idea.