Stiles floated out of the room. His feet moved, yet he knew not where they took him. The Counsel of Elders relieved him of all duties. The Chief Recorder and Historian sent him home. Yet there was no reason for him returning to his residence. His mate remained in the Infirmary and would be there for another day or two. Even his diapered son was missing, spending this day and the next with Redwall's resident nanny.

Despite the lack of rest from a night and day without sleep, he felt giddy. Elders who passed him while he moved through Redwall's hallway either tittered or grinned. He needed no looking glass to guess his expression. Though the miracle happened less than an hour ago, the Abbey's grapevine already had the news.

Without conscience thought, he traced a path beyond his residence and back to his place of work. He climbed the stairs and glided to his office. He needed an outlet for all his energy. Perhaps something needed his attention. Once inside, a gravelly voice broke the spell weaved earlier and startled him back to reality.

"Congratulations, Mister Stiles. Did Trestlerose have a boy or girl?"

"We have a beautiful daughter, though her pelt is so thin right now, we're not sure if she will be a light brown like me or a darker shade like my mate." Mister Stiles shook his head as he took his seat. "We still haven't selected a name. Maybe we can do it tomorrow when Trestlerose feels less exhausted. She fell asleep right after the bonding and nothing I did roused her. Our healer said go home and rest; I couldn't."

"I figured you would be here, so I came for the news from the source. I'm very happy for you." Badgermom Tassel scratched one of her ears. "If you would prefer me leaving you alone with your thoughts, I'll understand."

Stiles rubbed his bloodshot eyes before he replied. "Going over this history with you will be a good distraction. I just wished the official record gave your side of the story."

Tassel nodded. "The judges interviewed me and conferred with Lady Pellanore and Vindicarr several times. I remember them saying they saw no need for a written record during these private conferences as their questions were for clarification of the facts. I know they kept notes as I saw them writing whenever we talked, but there was no transcription taken by a recorder, like they did during the trial. It always bothered me when the judges asked for the facts and not the reasons whenever they asked a question about my actions."

"Well I can tell you Lady Sudditta still cannot believe you thought a healer docking your tail a service for your betters you were proud to do, and neither can I. What I have seen of their personal records show you defended slavery, which seems so out of character for you. Unless what I heard of your fight with a slaver fox were exaggerations."

The badger laughed. "Back then I did defend slavery, which shocked my teachers. One insisted I learn my letters by reading personal accounts about slavery. It opened my eyes and now I realize it is a terrible evil. Just a word of warning; those who are converted to a cause become its greatest zealots."

The scribe rubbed his muzzle a few times as he considered Tassel's words. "We have the time; why not tell me your side? That is the purpose of our meetings."

"What I am about to say has never been told before, even my mate knows nothing of my past. You will be the first ever to hear my story. So let me start with that fateful day and go from there." The badger stared at the ceiling for several moments before she started. Over the ensuing hours, Stiles wrote everything he heard. Pages tumbled from his desk as the Badgermom related her history. It took several sessions, but soon the story's pieces fell into place.

xxxxx

In a cabin near the harbor, over a dozen female slaves slept. All were exhausted from their labors tending to the crops and did not stir when an intruder entered. Standing with paws akimbo, the fellow bellowed his command that all awaken. Such an unexpected interruption had those within the room grumbling as they stirred, but not too loud. None wanted the uniformed taskmaster angered by their actions.

One female pouted over her interrupted sleep to Tassel, who slept next to her. "Momma T, it's still dark outside. Do we have to get up now?"

Tassel gazed at the young hogget lying next to her and ruffled the fur on her belly. "I know, Chaff, but our masters need us, so get those paws washed before we eat."

She watched as the girl weaved her way through the crowd. When the young hedgehog entered the washroom, Tassel folded their blankets. As she did the child's, she discovered the strip of dingy yellow cloth had slipped out of her head spikes during the night. Tassel knew the girl would return wondering where she dropped it; she pocketed the one decorative item Chaff treasured.

"Why have her here working in the field," inquired an old otter. The lady pointed with her chin in Chaff's direction. "She should stay back at the nursery with the other dibbuns too young to work."

"Didn't you enjoy the dipper of water she carried yesterday? I have her do small tasks, like carrying drinking water for the field workers. By observing us, she learns." Tassel then chuckled when she noticed the hedgehog's frantic waving. "Besides, her friends think she's so lucky working with the elders. It makes her feel special."

True to her prediction, Chaff whined about the loss of her treasured ribbon. But the pout turned into joyful squeals when Tassel pulled it out of her pocket. Chaff bounced in place as Tassel weaved it into her head spikes, tying the two frayed ends under her chin.

Once they gathered their morning meal, mother and daughter found a comfortable spot where they could gaze out to sea. Though the sky remained inky, the lights of an approaching ship appeared just beyond the harbor. A few seconds later, three signal fires flared to life on the shore.

Pointing out the vessel, Tassel exclaimed "There's the reason why we got up this early. That ship will need strong paws loading and unloading cargo." Giving the hogget a light squeeze, she whispered in her ear. "While we do that, grab a broom and sweep the warehouse. Our masters like things clean and they will be so proud of you."

Tassel was right about their assignment. Their masters herded a contingent of slaves towards the collection of buildings near one wharf. Inside the warehouse, several slaves grabbed rope and pulleys before returning to the dock. Others organized the material going outbound according to their taskmaster's instructions.

While the slaves moved the cargo, Chaff grabbed a broom and dashed to the area where anything offloaded would be placed. As Tassel expected, the weasel taskmaster said nothing about the child when she left. Chaff would remain busy while she worked with the others. Even the ship's cargo would go to another warehouse, so Chaff remained out of harm's way, but still feel useful.

As Tassel joined the dock crew, a male otter pointed toward the approaching ship. "That's not the merchant ship we expected, it's a warship."

All followed the otter's finger, and stared at the sleek profile of the ship entering the harbor. Then their taskmaster issued new orders. Cargo was moved back into the warehouse while the ship's stores were hustled to the dock. If things were hectic before somebody identified the warship, pandemonium broke out when one of the guards recognized the warship as Lord Tinsaur's flagship.

Tassel raced toward the holding pens where those consigned to the oars awaited the next inbound warship. She had a momentary twinge of pity for those unfortunates who displeased their master and found themselves here. They would serve aboard this ship for as many voyages as he deemed appropriate for their misdeeds. Like the hedgehog who had been Chaff's natural mother, anyone released from such a service lost any latent rebellious spirit in their efforts never to return.

No sooner had Tassel herded the chained slaves into the holding pen than a loud siren shrieked. Atop the watchtower, a stoat rush up the rungs, his paws a blur as he raced to his post. Once there, he cranked up his siren, which joined the others as they warbled out the notes of impending danger.

With the replacement oar slaves secured, Tassel hurried back to the warehouse. She dodged Lord Tinsaur's armed soldiers who raced to their posts. She ignored the slaves still milling about in confusion. For Tassel, there was but one thought on her mind, Chaff.

Bursting into the building, Tassel shouted the hogget's name. On the fourth try, she discerned her voice near the back of the vast room. Dashing to the child, she fastened her paw about the girl's wrist and yanked her off her feet. The broom went clattering to the floor, joining one of Chaff's sandals. By the time they reached the door, Tassel slowed enough the dibbun could stand next to her.

"What's wrong Momma T? Why are you so angry? I was doing a good job."

"I'm not angry at you," Tassel growled. She pulled Chaff into a sheltered doorway. She didn't have time to comfort the crying hogget. "That siren means we are under attack. Best thing for us to do is find somewhere safe, far from the fighting. We are grave danger, child. Now keep quiet and follow me."

Outside, confusion changed to panic as every slave darted off searching for a safe haven. Many raced back to the barracks they left earlier. Others scurried down whichever road offered the clearest path. Tassel joined one such group of slaves as they dodged the uniformed and armed servants of Lord Tinsaur charging in the same direction.

As they rounded a corner, five long-eared creatures atop the hill let loose a volley of arrows. Many of the slaves froze in place. Lord Tinsaur's soldiers closed on these invaders. Now the air filled with projectiles as both sides opened fire. One arrow overshot its mark and landed before the slaves. Panicked, everybody scattered. That arrow frightened Tassel and she ran towards an alley.

During the pell-mell rush to evade the battle, Tassel and Chaff became separated. When Tassel reached the relative safety of a building's lee side, she frantically searched for the child. Not finding her trailing the retreating slaves, Tassel turned back to the street.

Horror. The young hogget stood a few paces from her place of refuge. Chaff staggered another step before she lurched backwards. Unable to do anything but watch, Tassel's eyes filled with the vision of her daughter with an arrow deep in her chest. Where Chaff fell, the cobblestones turned red.

Roaring out the child's name, Tassel braved the deadly rain of shafts and scooped Chaff into her arms. Cradling the girl's warm body, she ignored the blood staining her fur and screamed the child's name a second time. When Chaff did not respond, Tassel laid her down in the shade and roared out her anguish.

Tassel darted out from cover and ran towards a shack she knew all too well. Lowering her shoulder, she ran into the door, splintering its frame. One quick look around and she found what she wanted. Taking the familiar scythe into her paws, she flicked the honed blade into position. The familiar tool morphed into a deadly weapon.

She made her way towards the growing number of long-eared archers. When she got as close as she could, she paused. As they loosened another volley, she charged. Halfway there, one of the archers faced her. A second later, several more turned in her direction. Still another second passed before one invader readied an arrow. She would make them rue their hesitation.

Tassel wielded the scythe, keeping its blade pointed upward. In one mighty swipe, she caught the closest three archers. The keen blade disemboweled them all. With her unbridled fury adding strength to her swing, the backstroke took out another two beasts.

Packed in such close proximity, the archers lost their advantage. Those still unharmed discarded their bows and went for their sheathed weapons. The screams of the dying as they tried stemming the flow of gore and the enraged bellow Tassel screamed added to the melee's confusion.

The scythe turned into a quarterstaff as Tassel bowled into the remaining archers. Before the survivors could organize a defense, she lashed out with paw, foot and staff. The last long-eared creature standing drew his sword, parried the scythe's blade and sliced through the shaft in a single motion. Before his backstroke could take her out, Tassel drove the splintered wooden shaft deep into the archer's chest.

Tassel stood atop the hill among the dead and dying. Panting from her exertion, she left the now broken scythe fall from her grasp. A glance back towards the port showed another group of the long-eared invaders. Tassel resolutely set off down the hill on an intercept course. Her life ended with the death of her child, all that mattered to her was vengeance.

Rounding the corner of an intervening building, she came face to face with one of the long-eared creatures. This fellow tried calming her. It didn't work. Seizing him by his strange uniform, Tassel threw the soldier straight up with all her might. The building's wooden awning stopped his upward progress and the fellow collapsed at her feet, his skull cracked like a walnut. Tassel grabbed the soldier's broadsword and raced towards the sound of battle.

As she reached the port, a group of Lord Tinsaur's soldiers fought a menagerie of creatures. The invaders were forcing the soldiers further down the pier towards the water's edge. While they fought, a contingent of raiders charged onto the warship via the aft gangplank. Both sides screamed out war cries as blade met blade.

Pausing, Tassel watched as the soldiers tried rallying against the invaders. Then she found two of the long-eared creatures fighting side by side against the taskmasters she served. Once more the image of her daughter's lifeless body came unbidden and Tassel screamed out the hogget's name.

She charged at full speed, holding the broadsword in both paws. Such was her concentration she took no notice of anything but Chaff's killers. Keeping the weapon straight out and level with the ground, she lined up the two long-eared fiends. The blade skewered the first and Tassel's momentum carried it into the back of the next one. As the two lifeless bodies fell, the blade dropped from her blood-slicked paws.

Tassel turned, determined to kill more of these unknown beast that murdered Chaff. There, on the ship, another of the long-eared beasts. Without breaking stride, and pushing any intervening body aside, Tassel charged up the aft gangplank roaring her daughter's name.