A Redwall-centric chapter, which is surprising for me, because it was planned to be an Angola-centric chapter until I realized there was a few things I needed to address at Redwall first. Like Redwall chapters before, it is mostly more character-fleshing stuff (Yeah, I know, you guys are probably starting to get tired of it) but not all of it. A fun moment with Tobias and Illia, naturally, and more is revealed about Skipper Rowe. Aquila, Linus's wife, finally gets a few speaking lines. Oh yeah, and I can't forget the ending...enjoy! :)
Chapter 10
Standing on the walltop above the gates patiently, Malachi and Charles looking up the path that ran past the abbey and through Mossflower Woods, waiting for Tobias and Illia to return from helping Mathoni set off on his journey. They had been waiting all day ever since the threesome had left this morning, the excitement of seeing Mathoni off on his quest still having worn off just yet. It was just about to, though, both Malachi and Charles being bored enough to begin considering doing something else, when Malachi finally spied them.
"There they are." he announced, his ears perking up in anticipation.
Racing each other down the path, Tobias was currently leading the way up to the abbey, laughing playfully. Illia was only less than half a pace behind him, though.
"I'm gonna bet ye there, mate!" Tobias exclaimed.
"Oh, we'll see 'bout that!" Illia said, putting on an extra burst of speed.
As she started to pass Tobias, she lashed out with her thick otter tail at her brother, making him stumble and fall a pace or two behind, permitting Illia to take the lead. Tobias didn't stay behind for long though, quickly catching up with his twin sister as the rounded around the corner and surged into the gates that Malachi and Charles had quickly gone and opened. In the end, the race ended in a tie, Tobias and Illia tripping on each others footpaws and crossing the alleged "finish line" to their race in a tangled heap.
Laughing, they disentangled themselves from each other and stood back up.
"Good race, brother dear." Illia said, taking Tobias's paw to shake.
"Very much so, mate." Tobias replied, grinning and returning the shake. "Gave me a real challenge, there, so ye did."
Malachi then politely cleared his throat. "Sorry if I'm interruptin' this...um...wotever this is about...but uh, just wanted t' ask if Mathoni got on his way all right." he said.
"Oh bless yore 'eart Malachi, 'course he did." Tobias said, ruffling Malachi's ears. "Reckon he's 'bout a mile upstream by now."
"How long do you think he'll be away?" the young hare asked next.
"Mathoni?" Tobias asked, then shrugged. "Dunno, mate. Could be anywhere from days t' weeks. All depends on 'ow long it takes for him t' go to an' from an' 'ow long he stays there."
"Why do ye ask, Malachi?" Illia asked as they jointly closed the gates and made their way across the abbey grounds.
"Just curious." Malachi said. "Really, it's kind of excitin', eh wot? Knowin' that Mathoni's out there havin' an adventure. Bet he'll come back with a real tale t' tell."
Tobias laughed. "Well, I dunno about that, mate." he said. "I'm willin' t' bet nothin' much excitin' will 'appen on this liddle assignment of Mathoni's. Tis not like he'll come back with a whole whopper of a legend t' tell."
"It's still excitin', though." Malachi said. He nudged Charles who was silently walking along beside him. "Isn't it, Charles? Don't you want t' be out there with him, gettin' out in the world and just havin' a jolly good adventure?"
Charles averted making eye contact, and shrugged indifferently.
"Of course, there are plenty o' good reason t' stay 'ere at Redwall, though." Illia pointed out. "Like the food. Is it teatime yet?"
"Not yet." Malachi said with a sigh. "Which reminds me of the very reason why I'm here and not out doing the same as Mathoni."
"Th' fact that Skipper Rowe asked Mathoni specifically t' go an' no one else?" Illia inquired.
"No." Malachi said.
It was then a loud voice boomed out from the entrance into the main building of the abbey.
"Malachi!" Friar Machaerus called out from where he stood, adjusting his chef's hat. "C'mon down t' the kitchens, son, I need your help making some biscuits for th' afternoon tea! Briskly, now, wot-wot?"
Malachi sighed again. "It's the fact that I have duties I have to do here." he muttered to the otter twins then started walking off, taking Charles paw and dragging the mouse with him. "C'mon Charles, I'll need you t' doing the cookin' for those biscuits. Knowin' me, I'm more likely t' just burn 'em."
Some time later, Rowe walked along on the ramparts on the walls, looking out at the horizon, watching the sun sink lower towards it, although it still had some distance cover before it reached sunset and time for dinner. He was thinking about Mathoni, hoping the youth was getting along okay, and praying that no harm would befall him during his journey. He also hoped that he and Abbot Isaiah didn't make a mistake sending him out like that.
Coming to stop to lean on the walltop, he sighed. "Keep safe, Mathoni." he said to himself. "Wouldn't forgive meself if somethin' 'appened t' ye while ye were on this journey."
"Now, that's not staying very optimistic."
Rowe turned and saw Linus and his wife, Aquila, coming towards him. The two squirrels appeared to be out for an evening stroll.
"Linus." Rowe said, straightening. "Ye caught me by surprise there, didn't 'ear ye comin'." he looked around. "Where's Alexander?"
"He's playing with friends in Great Hall." Linus said. "Sister Mint's watching over them, and you know what's she like with that duty. Anyway, Aquila and I thought it would be a good chance to take a quick stroll, just to ourselves. Being parents and all, we don't get much time like that anymore."
Rowe laughed. "Guess there is some downsides t' bein' a parent." he said. "I probably wouldn't be cut out for it."
"Now, I wouldn't say that, Rowe." Aquila said. "I think you'd make a very good father, and you'd probably benefit from having a family."
Rowe shook his head, leaning on the parapet. "No, I wouldn't." he said. "You two didn't know me family 'afore I came 'ere. Broken and disordered bunch, they were. Most of 'em wouldn't talk t' the other 'alf because of some silly family feud. Me mother died when I wasn't much younger than yore own son, Linus, an' me father was never th' same afterwards. Spent most of his time t' 'imself, an' probably wasn't th' greatest of fathers. Was a good warrior, though, but even that 'ad t' come t' an end, gettin' 'imself killed in a bloody battle with vermin." he shook his head. "I wouldn't know th' first thing about startin', much less maintainin', a family, so I decided a long time ago t' just not t' bother."
"Is that why you never married?" Linus said, leaning on the parapet beside Rowe. "You thought you wouldn't be able to maintain your side of the marriage?"
"Didn't exactly grow up in the greatest of conditions t' learn, mate." Rowe said with a shrug. "'Sides, I didn't lie when I said that I never found th' right girl. I mean, sure, I met some very nice maidens over th' seasons, but..." he shrugged. "Point is that I'm just fine on me own, mates."
"But are you really?" Aquila asked, joining them by leaning on the parapet herself. "Sorry if I seem intruding, Skip, but you do seem lonely sometimes. I mean, sure, you have all of us here at Redwall as your friends, and your fellow tribe of otters that you lead, but beyond that..." she shrugged.
"And then there's Mathoni." Linus said. "I personally think you care more for the lad than you're willing to admit."
Rowe smiled. "Ye got me there, mate, tis true." he admitted. "Don't ever tell 'im this, but I see a lot of meself in Mathoni. He's ambitious, thoughtful, an' has more than enough will t' be a warrior. I just worry he's 'ad a too sheltered life 'ere at Redwall, an' couldn't handle it because of it."
"Is that why you sent him on this little journey?" Aquila asked.
"Well, it was Father Abbot's idea, not mine." Rowe quickly said. "But aye, I immediately supported the idea, even if just for my benefit in seein' for meself if young Mathoni could handle it."
They were silent for a moment.
"Well, I don't know about you two, but I think Mathoni can more than handle it." Aquila spoke finally. She nudged her husband who was the closer of the two. "All Mathoni needs is some support and trust in him. I've given him mine. You two should, too."
Linus and Rowe glanced at each other.
"Well, I've never been one t' argue with a pretty maiden, mate." Rowe said with a grin.
"Now you be careful, Skip, she's my wife." Linus scolded playfully.
They laughed, and began some light conversation. While they did, a bird flew by over head and perched itself on one of the abbey's towers, chattering loudly.
Aquila glanced in it's direction. "Is that a sparrow?" she asked.
"Sounds like it's agitated about something." Linus said, shrugging. "I dunno, I don't speak Sparra. I've heard it is a very difficult language to understand, much less repeat. In fact, according to our record books, there only have been a handful of reported creatures who were fluent in the language, including..."
"Now, who's that?" Rowe suddenly interrupted, squinting his eyes down at the path outside the abbey walls.
They all turned to look at the creature calmly heading up the path towards the abbey. It's path indicated that it was heading for the gates.
"Ahoy there, matey!" the Skipper of Otters hailed to the creature, waving a paw. "Where ye be off t'?"
The figure, dressed in his sky blue habit, paused and turned to look at the three creatures on the walltops, planting the end of his staff into the ground.
"Greetings, creatures." he spoke. "I have come from afar to your abbey to bring you a message. I wish to speak with your leader. May I be permitted to enter?" he pointed with one claw over at the gates.
Rowe pulled at his whiskers for a moment in thought, his eyes scanning the creature from head to toe.
"He looks innocent enough." Linus offered, trying to be helpful.
"Looks can be deceiving, mate." Rowe pointed out, but he couldn't find any faults with the creature either. He finally shrugged, standing straight and smoothing the wrinkles out of his tunic. "Alright, guess there's no reason we can't let 'im in." he said, heading for the staircase leading down to the grounds. "Aquila, could I please implore ye t' go an' fetch Abbot Isaiah so these two can speak? Me an' Linus 'ere will let 'im in."
Aquila nodded, and quickly hurried off into the abbey to carry out the task. Working together to unbar the gates, Linus and Rowe then pulled open the heavy wooden doors to allow the mysterious creature to enter. It was then that they got their first good look at this creature.
The hood to his habit was still pulled over his head, but his face could still be seen and identified as a mouse. He wore a cool and emotionless expression. There was a tattoo on his right cheek, depicting a symbol neither Linus and Rowe had seen before. Another, smaller symbol sat on his brow, and was also unidentifiable. Once the gates were open, the mouse strolled in calmly and silently, the staff topped with a beautiful sapphire he held in his paw used idly like a walking stick.
"Welcome to Redwall." Linus greeted, nodding at the creature.
The mouse glanced at Linus, but otherwise did not respond, and strolled right on past him and Rowe and on down the path towards the main building of the abbey. The recorder squirrel and the Skipper of Otters gave each other puzzled and slightly apprehensive looks as they closed the gates again.
Abbeydwellers quickly began to gather to watch the peculiar creature, murmuring to themselves quietly. A couple of the youth pointed at their claws at the odd creature before their elders stopped them with shushed scolds. Like he dealt with this everyday, though, the mouse ignored it all, and continued steadily down the path leading into the abbey. He didn't step inside though, for Aquila returned with the abbot in tow before he got that far, and met the creature on the steps.
Abbot Isaiah looked the creature over, and narrowed his eyes slightly, getting a feeling of unease in his stomach. He seemed to ignore it in the end, though, shaking his aging head to clear his thoughts before addressing the creature.
"Hello, and welcome to Redwall Abbey, dear traveler." he said. "Is there something we could perhaps be of service to you?"
The mouse slowly and methodically lowered his hood before answering.
"Thank you for your kind reply, Father Abbot." he replied calmly. "I will not require anything, however, save your ears for listening to what I wish to tell you."
Isaiah gave the creature a suspicious look, to the surprise of some of the onlookers. "Which is?" he prompted.
"That everything you believe in is a lie."
