Wow, ten chapters already, and I'm still just getting started. :) This is another filler cahpter, admittedly, and there's probably going to be a few more after this that are like it. I'm trying to get through this as quickly as possible, but this is hard, beause I'm having fun writing the filler, and I've found not one but two snags in the planned storyline. Fortunately, I think I've got fixes for them already, but everything isn't so well planned out anymore.
Anyway, in this chapter, Weylan and Mattimeo disembark for Southsward, the hares make further progress, and the plans for the near future for the vermin horde is revealed, along with a little cookie or two for the reader to ponder. ;)
Chapter 10
"Matti, lend a paw over 'ere." Weylan grunted as he pulled his canoe out of a storeroom.
Mattimeo sighed, and stepped over to help drag the three-creature boat out of the storeroom.
"We have to take this along as well?" Mattimeo asked.
"Well, the quickest way t' get to Southsward is by sea, an' the quickest way t' get to the sea is by boat as well." Weylan replied, setting the canoe he made himself the previous fall for sailing on the abbey pond down to retrieve it's paddles. It had been set aside during the winter and had yet to be pulled out again.
"Why can't we use this to sail the sea then?" Mattimeo asked.
"Not the same." Weylan replied. "I may 'ave never sailed on the sea before, but I do know a thing or two 'bout doin' it. A canoe is too little an' unstable fer sailin' on the sea." He tucked the paddles into an alcove under one of the boat's seats and he and Mattimeo lifted the boat up and over their heads to carry it outside. "An' besides," Weylan continued as they did this, "The only reason ye ask is because yore desperate t' try an' not see Ferrin."
"Of course not!" Mattimeo replied as they navigated the canoe down a flight of stairs into Great Hall. "That creature is completely mad! So much so, it's amazing he hasn't gone and accidently killed himself because of it."
"Yore father said he's an excellent sailor, regardless of his...er...condition." Weylan pointed out. "An' he said that conversations are never borin' with Ferrin around."
"That doesn't mean that anybeast in their right mind would want to see him." Mattimeo grumbled as they marched across the relatively empty hall.
"Aw, 'ush, Matti." Weylan said. "Yore goin', ye know ye are, 'cause ye haven't done a thing t' back out."
Mattimeo grumbled something under his breath, but did not press the matter further, knowing that Weylan had a point. Suddenly, as they marched with the canoe balanced on their heads, it was lifted right off and into the air.
"Here, let me help." a friendly voice said.
Weylan and Mattimeo watched as Auma took the canoe in both paws and carried it with ease.
"Thanks Auma." Weylan told the badger as they headed outside with the boat.
"You're welcome." Auma replied, "Where would you like it?"
"Over by the front gate." Weylan replied, pointing to where a crowd of Redwallers had started to gather. "I think we're about ready to leave, right mate?"
"Yes, I think so." Mattimeo replied, as he scanned the neatly stacked pile of items near the gatehouse that they where going to take. "Friar Ben has gathered the food and drink, we have the canoe, the best record book Tim can spare on Southsward, and various other things, such as blankets and cloaks. You have you're dagger and sling, I have a sling...I think the only thing we're missing is-"
"Myself."
They turned to see Matthias stroll up, one paw carrying the sword of Martin in it's sheath, and in the other a cane, which he used idly, making a creature wonder whether he really needed it or not.
"Hello father." Mattimeo greeted as Matthias strolled up. "Are you sure you want to go on this journey? A journey like this for a mouse of your age and condition, even though you are still warrior of Redwall, could be very difficult for you."
"I wouldn't miss this for the world, Matti." Matthias replied. "It's a chance to have an adventure with my son and one of his closest friends. Besides, I'm the only one who knows where Ferrin really is, and further more, I'm only going as far as the seashore, not all the way to Southsward."
"Oh, decided not to risk it, eh?" Weylan asked, as he pulled a haversack over his shoulders.
"No, Cornflower won't let me." Matthias replied. "Said she'd chop off my tail if she found out that I went with you to Southsward, and that I would be 'setting a bad example for the young ones.'"
"That sounds like mother." Mattimeo agreed, also pulling a haversack onto his back. "We're ready then?"
Matthias nodded, also picking up a haversack, and Weylan forwent the acknowledgment and went to pick up the canoe from where Auma had set down, picking up one end and lifting it up and over his head.
"Well, wot are we waitin' fer?" Weylan asked impatiently, "Summer?"
Matthias and Mattimeo laughed. Mattimeo went to join Weylan in carrying the canoe, but Matthias held him up.
"One thing before we leave, son." he said, taking Mattimeo's paws, and placing Martin's sword into them. "You carry the sword."
Mattimeo looked at the sheathed blade for a moment. "But I thought you were..." he began to object.
Matthias indicated for silence. "You said it yourself Matti." he said. "I am getting older, and sooner or later I'm going to have to face the facts and admit that I can't go on forever. By all accounts, you probably should have been made the Redwall Champion last season. Now I think it's time that we stop holding the inevitable off, and make the first steps towards that. I mean, look at you. You're all grown up now, and married, no less."
Mattimeo was silent for a moment, running a paw over the intricate designs on the sword's scabbard, then embraced his father in a hug.
"Thank you, father." he said. "I promise, I won't let you, or Redwall, or Martin, down."
Matthias returned the embrace. "I know you will." he said, then let go, making the final preparations to leave. "Now, let's not keep Weylan waiting any longer."
By this point, several Redwallers had gathered to see them off. Saying their goodbyes and giving last minute hugs, Weylan, Mattimeo, and Matthias were held up a few moments longer before Mattimeo went to carry the other end of the canoe and they were off, with Matthias leading.
They walked down the path in silence, leaving Redwall behind them. But after going very far, Matthias suddenly stepped off of the path and into the surrounding woodlands.
"Where are we goin'?" Weylan asked as he and Mattimeo followed with the canoe over their heads.
"We're taking a shortcut." Matthias said.
"So we're not going all the way to River Moss?" Mattimeo asked.
"No, there's another, much smaller river, near here that leads to the sea as well." Matthias said as they trudged through the woodlands. "It should open up closer to where Ferrin lives as well. At least," he paused for a moment to scratch at his fur. "I think it does."
Weylan tapped his tail impatiently. "Well, are we goin' or not?" the otter asked. "I don't really care how we get there, just so long we actually get there!"
And they walked on, unknowingly taking a path that would prevent them from meeting up with another party of creatures...
Sailing down River Moss was one thing, but heading back up it, especially with the current working against you when the water level is at the highest as the melted snow from the previous winter flowed into the river, was an entirely different thing. But Guosim shrews are stubborn, and never one to turn down a challenge. They took on sailing the raft upriver with a vengeance, refusing help from the Salamandastron hares they were riding with.
Which was fine for them, for they were still tired from their mad race to get there, and wanted to rest.
Kislee was particularly enjoying the trip, who hadn't done much sailing before in her lifetime. "Isn't this simply wonderful?" she asked with a content sigh. "Listen to the water surging past the raft, look at the trees racing past as we travel upriver, and feel the spray and the gentle rocking of the boat."
"Oh yes," Violet agreed, picking up on the conversation. "I particularly like the rocking of the boat. Isn't that right Mark? Isn't it great to feel the boat rock, toss, shake, sway, tilt, wobble..."
Mark, who had been looking quite green for the past several minutes of the journey, moaned, then leaned over the side of the raft and lost the contents of his stomach.
Violet laughed. "So much for the stomach of steel." she remarked.
"He was told he was gonna get seasick if he ate all that food beforehand." Flugg said, coming up to join them. He turned to Wootiberg. "We're makin' good progress." he reported. "With a liddle luck, we should reach the ford late on the 'morrow. A quick march later and we'll all be at the abbey."
"Good." Wootiberg said. "The sooner we reach Redwall, the better."
"It's just a vermin horde though." Flugg pointed out, as he sat down beside the hare leader. "Nothin' we can't handle, right? I mean, Mossflower has gone up against vermin hordes before an' won."
"Ah, but you haven't seen this horde work." Freeman pointed out. "They aren't like other hordes. Very organized, this lot."
"And their numbers are many." Gooding added monotonously. "That, in of itself, is cause for concern."
"They're skilled warriors too." Wootiberg concluded. "Salamandastron is lucky to not have to fight 'em."
Flugg frowned. "Y'know, an' yore probably gonna think this is irrelevant, but that sounds vaguely familiar..." he said, tapping his chin with one claw.
They were interrupted by the sound of Mark vomiting over the side of the boat again. Kislee had pulled an herb of some sort from her bag and was trying to give it to Mark while Violet watched, amused.
"Here, just chew on this for awhile, and you'll be right as rain in no time." Kislee was saying, trying to press the herb into Mark's paw. "It'll help, I promise."
But Mark kept pushing the herb away, not feeling well enough to chew anything at the moment.
"I know wot will help." Flugg said, standing. "Tulse, get that seasickness medicine of yores." he called to one of the shrews. "That'll get him feelin' right again."
Tulse, a stout female, arrived with a vile of something, and stood to one side as Kislee and Violet held Mark still and Flugg held Mark's mouth open.
Tulse pulled out the stopper. "Bottom's up!" she said as she poured the vile's foul-smelling contents down Mark's throat.
Mark gagged for several moments, nearly vomiting again. "Wot was that stuff?" he croaked eventually.
"Never you mind." Tulse said, pocketing the empty vile and walking off. "Just know it'll make yeh feelin' well again by mornin'. However, you are in fer a rough night 'til then."
Mark groaned, leaning back against raft's railing in despair.
Aurora looked around as she cooked the woodpigeon she had caught. "Must be getting close to Mossflower now, I imagine." she said, looking at the leafy treetops. "I mean, just look at these trees."
"Think of the fire you could make with all that wood." Sais remarked, his mind on other things.
"Think of all the heat such a fire could produce." Jaydee muttered longingly, sitting as close to Aurora's cooking fire as the vixen dared, shivering slightly.
"You're not cold, are you?" the ferret asked, smirking.
"A little." Jaydee admitted, annoyed. "It is colder in this country than down south."
"Told you." Aurora said, tauntingly, poking at her woodpigeon with the tip of a dagger.
"I get the message, you little rat." Jaydee muttered.
"Didn't you say you had a cloak or somethin'?" Sais asked.
"I misplaced it." Jaydee admitted, again annoyed. "Can't find it anywhere."
"Y'know, I've seen that cloak of yours." Aurora said. "It's quite nice. Nice enough for someone to steal, that is."
"Oh, if that's true, then just wait until I get my hands on their scrawny little..." Jaydee muttered, clasping her paws together angrily.
"Oy! Jaydee!"
The vixen turned to see Captain Rigg marching up to her.
"His lordship want's ya to meet with us in his tent." Rigg said, pointing at the lonely tent set up not far from here.
"Fine." Jaydee said, standing, and followed Rigg to The Shadow's tent.
The other two captains were there as well. Vimzey, an abnormally tall stoat, stood near their cloaked leader while Judd, a red-furred fox, stood to one side, overlooking everything calmly.
"Found Jaydee yer lordship." Rigg reported as he and Jaydee entered. "Though why you'd want her here in a captain's meetin' is beyond me."
Jaydee shot Rigg a scowl, and nearly missed the message their silent leader signed out with his paws.
"He wants his next treatment of medicine early." Jaydee said, puzzled, reaching into her herb bag for the necessary items. "Don't know why, but he says it can't wait." she retreated to a corner of the tent to prepare the mixture. "Don't mind me, should only take a moment."
Jaydee shuddering as she consciously felt Judd's disapproving glare drill into the back of her head.
Rigg shrugged. "Ah, well, do whatever ya need to." he said, then turned to face The Shadow head on. "Now, yer lordship, what can we do fer ya?"
The leader pulled out his map and unrolled it on his lap. He pointed at a particular spot on the map with one claw while he signed out a message with his other paw. Like Jaydee, the captains knew their leader's mysterious sign language, although Rigg wasn't fluent in it.
"Huh? What was that?" Rigg asked, not understanding all of the complicated motions.
"He asked if this is our present location." Vimzey explained, then, to the leader, nodded. "Yes, your lordship," she said. "That is our present location. Yes, right next to that little river. Why do you ask?"
The leader signed out his reply.
"He wants to sail up the river." Vimzey said. "Cut travel time to our destination in half."
"Good idea milord." Judd said, speaking for the first time. "We'll have the horde start building boats and be gathered at the riverside, sharpish."
Rigg scratched behind one ear. "But why that river?" he asked. "Why not a bigger river, like River Moss? That goes up here in this area of country, don't it?"
"This river is closer." Vimzey pointed out.
"And besides, River Moss is so much bigger that it is used more frequently." Judd reasoned calmly. "By going up this river, we're less likely to be seen."
Rigg nodded, satisfied. "Alright, let's start buildin' boats, then!"
He left. Vimzey waited for approval from the leader, the followed suit. Judd gave Jaydee, who had naturally heard everything, one last glare, then left as well. By this time, Jaydee had the medicine ready, and brought to the leader.
"Here you are, your lordship." Jaydee said. "Drink it up, now."
The leader drained it in one gulp, and shuddered, rubbing at his throat. But he grinned, and as the sedatives in the medicine began to kick in, he did something unexpected.
"Jaydee." he spoke, still rubbing at his throat, sounding nothing more than a harsh whisper, but speaking none the less. "You're doing well."
He was soon fast asleep, leaving Jaydee slightly surprised.
She had never heard The Shadow speak before now. Ever.