25

Questions, plans, and parchment

"Do you have Martin's sword on you?" Columbine whispered to Rose as they were led into the tunnels leading from the Gardens.

Rose only gave the slightest of nods. She didn't want to draw attention to the fact she was armed. She also didn't want to draw the small blade since there was no chance of a single mousemaid being able to fight off the five wolves that surrounded her and Columbine. And she had a promise to keep. Martin had charged her to let none take the blade from her. As she and Columbine were led towards Lupisto's chambers Rose's thoughts were constantly of Martin.

Oh what would you do if you were in this position Martin she thought. Immideatly the answer came to her. Draw your sword and cut them to ribbons, but then again you've always been a warrior. I'll never know how you've been able to do all you've done Martin. I hope I don't let you down.

A nudge from Columbine's elbow brought Rose out of her reverie. "Look's like we're here," whispered the mousewife.

The five wolves guarding them had lined up on either side of the corridor in line with two more wolves standing in front of two heavy oak doors. With expressionless faces the wolves opened the doors and motioned for the two maids to walk through. When they hesitated the wolf they had heard addressed as Restro gave them a small shove in their backs. "Thou hast been called into the presence of the Mighty One. Thou shalt not fail to appear."

Rose and Columbine locked eyes for a moment to steel themselves for what ever was to come. I hope I can still be as brave as you Martin was the thought that went through Rose's mind.

When the two mice entered they were surprised to see the rich furnishings around them. The humid warmth and incense from the braziers and warm bath caused them both to sneeze as they walked inside. Lupisto was waiting for them near a set of doors. The doors had light coming through the white silk covering large windows set in the doors. He opened the doors and beckoned to the mice. "Come hither mine fair ones."

Rose and Columbine stayed where they were. Though she was nervous Rose only let contempt show in her face and voice. "Why should we?"

Columbine was of the same persuasion. "We go over to that window and you pitch us out to our dooms? I don't think so." Her eyes were narrowed with the glare she was shooting at the wolf.

Restro couldn't stand such manners to his master. "Thou wilt address the Mighty One as is proper! How dare thee speaks in such a…"

Lupisto cut him off. "Silence Restro! Do not let thy voice disgrace mine guests." The big gray wolf went into a lengthy discourse about the proper way to treat Flurem Woo-es to his lieutenant.

While the wolf was talking Columbine whispered to Rose again. "Do you notice how calm Lupisto has become? Back in the Gardens he looked ready to tear somebeasts head off."

"Not a very pleasant thought considering our situation," Rose whispered back.

"You know what I mean. It's either because his mood changes faster than Gonff can steal a scone, or he's only calmed down just enough to make us think he's back to normal."

"What happens if he is only calm on the surface then explodes again?" Columbine blanked at Rose's suggestion. Rose saw that Lupisto seemed to be finishing dressing down Restro so quickly added, "No time to dwell on it, just pay attention to anything he says or does."

Lupisto turned again to the two mice. "Forgive Restro he hast been under much toil as of late."

"Good," Columbine barked out.

"Thou wishes mine host toil and strife o fair one?" Lupisto's tone was almost a whine.

"We wish to be set free from this prison you've got us in. The same goes for every other maid in the Gardens." Rose was using her leadership tone again. "You're not protecting us from anything by keeping us here. Your wolves are nothing but a bunch of murdering bullies, and those vermin that serve you are becoming more and more scared of Martin and Gonff."

Rose knew here words had had an effect since Lupisto started grinding his teeth together. "What dost thou know of this Martin or Gonff?"

Columbine looked at Rose. Seeing the steel in the other mousemaid's eyes she went into a litany of Martin and Gonff. "Two finer warriors you'll never meet. My husband Gonff can sneak up on you and steal the cape off your back and make you think it was still there. The two daggers he wields are like flashing death to any foe in his way. And he'll do all that with a grim smile on his face while his blades sing your death song.
"As far as Martin goes there isn't much one can say against him. He's the bravest of the brave, the most skilled mouse ever to draw a sword. He's slain warlords greater than you'll ever hope to be. Rain, cold, heat, or storm won't cause him to abandon his quest. I pity you the day he shows up here. The blade he carries was forged in the fires of the Place of the Fire Lizard, Salamandastron, with a piece of a fallen star. You think these walls or your weapons can stand against him? You've got another thing coming."

Rose felt the tension that had gripped her melt as she listened to Columbine describe Martin and Gonff. Replacing it was a burning pride for Martin and Gonff.

"Enough!" Lupisto shouted. From his position near his bed he grabbed the cane Rose and Columbine has seen him use on their first day in the Valley. Lupisto leapt at the two maids and raised the cane as if he was going to strike them with it. Rose was about to draw the sword Martin had given her when Lupisto stopped in mid-swing. "No," he was shaking from the anger coursing though him and the effort to hold his blow. "I shalt not harm thee." The wolf lowered his cane but still glared at the still defiant mice. "Restro!"

"Yes milord?"

Lupisto pointed his cane at Rose and Columbine. "Take these two to mine cells. It hast become apparent they no longer desire the shelter mine forces provide. Let them be kept together and fed well, but only buy a deaf and mute servant. They shalt not be allowed to spread more lies about the Undeserving ones known as Martin and Gonff."

Restro was a bit shocked. Never had a Flurem Woo-es been punished let alone thrown into the prison cells. "Art thou certain milord? Yon maids are…"

"Now Restro!" Lupisto shouted the command.

"At once Mighty One," Restro bowed low. Turning to the doors of Lupisto's chambers he opened them and had the other wolves again form an escort around Rose and Columbine to lead them to the prison cells.

As they left Lupisto called out to Restro. "And send for Alantra!"

Restro bowed again. "Yes Mighty One."

The prison cell was a small square room cut into the mountain. Rose and Columbine were thrown in by their wolf guards and the oaken door was slammed shut. As the mousemaids sat up from the floor they heard locks being secured. Since there were no windows it was pitch black.

"Well that turned out well don't you think?"

Even though she knew Columbine wouldn't see it Rose gave her friend a puzzled look. "How do you figure? We're locked in a cell, no light, and no way of sending any more messages to Martin or Gonff."

"You still have the sword Martin gave you yes?"

Rose fished it out of her pocket taking care not to cut her paw on the keen blade. "It's right here."

"Then we're all set," Columbine's tone was cheery. "Now where's the door?"

Rose was still confused. "Wait a tic. You've got a plan. What is it?"

"Ah here it is," came the mousewife's voice from the dark. "Pass the sword over would you please."

Rose moved to where Columbine's voice had come from and was able to hand the sword to her. "For the third time Columbine, what's going on?"

The scrape of metal on metal was audible as Columbine responded. "Just a bit more, and, gotcha!" A small door had opened in the bottom of the main cell door letting in a stream of light. Columbine was revealed next to it with her arm outside as she tried to pick the other locks of the door.

Realization dawned on Rose. "You mean to pick the locks and get us out of here!"

"Exactly," Columbine confirmed. "But there's more. Lupisto thinks he's preventing us from speaking to anybeast by having only a deaf and mute jailer. But it's a double edged blade he's playing with. Just as that one can't tell any of our friends about our plans, they won't be able to tell Lupisto that we're breaking out. And if we are seen in this cell everyday when food is brought and stories about Martin and Gonff continue to circulate he'll just be driven that much further up the wall."

Rose gave a laugh and knelt down to hug the other mouse. "How'd a nice mousemaid like you learn to be so tricky?"

"My husband's not called the Prince of Mousethieves for nothing. With this sword and the tricks Gonff has taught me I doubt there is any lock I couldn't pick. I might not be as fast or as secretive about it as Gonff, but I can get the job done. Ah there we go!"

The door swung open causing both Columbine and Rose to go spilling out into the passageway. Rose was first to recover and helped Columbine back to her footpaws. As she accepted her sword back Rose looked up and down the corridors. "Can you make it look like the cell door is locked when it isn't?"

It was the work of a few moments for Columbine. "So what now?" she asked as she inspected her work.

Rose was still scanning for any signs of wolf or vermin. "Personally I think we're jumping ahead of ourselves a bit. It's only been a short while since we were thrown in that cell. If we wait for a bit and get used to the routine of when we given meals and the like it'll let us know how long we can stay outside the cell."

"So after all the hard work I did picking those locks you want me to lock us back in?" Columbine teased.

Rose smiled at the joke. "Only for a bit. I've got a few ideas. Come on let's get back inside and make a few plans."

Columbine rubbed her paws together as a grim bloomed on her face. "Ohhhh this sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun. Just wait till I tell my Gonff about it."

Lupisto paced in his chambers as he waited for the old seer to arrive. When she did the old one could clearly tell the warlord was under severe stress. His once finely embroidered clothing had become wrinkled and disheveled. His eyes were bloodshot from a lack of sleep. The greatest change was in his temperament. Gone was the cool calculating manner that had guided the wolf. In its place was a beast likely to strike out at any moment.

"Cast they bones and charms old one. What news hast thou for mine ears?" Lupisto pointed with his cane at a spot on the floor.

Alantra staggered to the spot indicated. Reaching onto the table next to Lupisto's bed she took a silver plate and dropped it to the floor. Leaning over the plate she mumbled incoherently for a while as drool and spit fell onto the platter. Taking a handful of dirt from the floor she tossed it into the plate and mixed it with her filthy claw. Finally she opened a bag of strangely carved stones and let them fall onto the plate as well.

Lupisto was impatient. "Make haste crone!"

The grizzled she-wolf seemed to ignore the other wolfs bluster. She picked up the pan and began to move it like a prospector panning for ore. Finally she began to speak in her singsong pattern.

"'De thorn and de sneak grow strong,
Wind and rain sing dere battle song.
'De host of de moon its match has met,
Jus' as de sun causes de stars to set."

This was the last thing Lupisto wanted to hear. With a fearsome growl coming from his throat he strode to where Alantra sat hunched on the floor and backhanded her across the head. The blow caused the pan to go flying in the air and land in a dripping mess on Lupisto's tunic. Alantra was thrown to the ground where she lay panting heavily as Lupisto's shouts echoed around her.

"Warnings of doom art all thou bespeaks of! Know this wretch and know it well. I am the Lupisto of the Allpack! He who commands the mountains to shake and the rivers to dry! By mine will I swear to thee this Martin and Gonff shall perish by mine blade!"

Acting as if nothing had happened Alantra continued in her strange dialect.

"'De heart of de thorn is de flower,
Dat bond be 'is power.
'De power to cause 'de thorn to swoon,
Still be held by 'de host of 'de moon."

With a shudder Alantra closed her eyes and collapsed on the floor. Only the slight rise and fall of her tattered cloak gave evidence that she was still alive. However her words had had another profound impact on Lupisto.

He had been in mid swing of another backhanded blow when he heard the second verse. The words made him pause as a new plan came to his mind. In his stressed and sleep deprived mind it seemed like a good one to him. But it also conflicted strongly with every code he had been brought up in. Finally he came up with an alternative.

"Guard!" he shouted into the corridor. When a tan wolf appeared and saluted Lupisto gave quick commands. "Send for the head of mine Feathered Brethren. Such birds have tasks to accomplish."

As the wolf ran off to follow the order Lupisto walked over to his desk and pulled out a parchment along with a quill and ink.

It was Skipper's and his crew's turn to mount guard duty on the walls. Even though there had been no reports of vermin in the area the captains of the Restored Fur and Freedom Fighters weren't taking any chances. Better to be vigilant and bored than unprepared and caught in a vermin trap. So it was Streamer who first caught sight of the three eagles winging their way to Redwall along with another black shape.

"Ahoy Skip!" called out the otter. "We's got a few of them eagles approachin' with what looks likes comp'ny!"

The burly otter chief rushed to the spot in a flash. "Looks like yore right matey! Best call Martin, Gonff, and Brome. They's is gonna want to see this."

The three mice arrived just in time to see two of the eagles guide the black shape into the trees of Mossflower. The third eagle kept on to Redwall where it landed near the assembled creatures.

Stobon bowed to Martin before giving his report. We caught site of a raven flying out of the southeast two days ago. It was only a day after Dorocol, Vendre, Tankoam, and Scirus were able to rescue those two captured mice we told you about."

"What does the raven want?" asked Brome.

"It came bearing a white flag of truce and asked only to speak to Martin and Gonff." The eagle nodded to the respective mice.

Martin looked at Gonff. "Think we finally might be getting through to the vermin?"

Gonff had been playing with one of his daggers as he listened to the eagle. With grin and a flourish he sheathed the blade. "I don't think they'd have sent a messenger if we hadn't matey."

Martin turned to Skipper. "Gonff, Brome, the eagles and I will see what this raven has to say. Alert the Long Patrol to be ready to muster to march should the word come. Also please ask Lady Amber to see to the disposition of the rest of the captured weapons. And lastly please inform the Abbess that we'll need those cold weather supplies ready as soon as possible."

"Thinkin' of finally settin' off to put paid to these beasties once and for all then?"

"Aye Skip, I am." Martin responded. "I hate to mount a campaign in winter but something tells me the longer we delay the worse things will be."

A short while later Martin, Gonff, and Brome were facing the raven. The eagles had forced it to land in a small clearing out of sight from the Redwall. As an added precaution a large blindfold was wound around the black birds head.

"What do you want here raven?" Brome was the first to speak.

The raven cocked his head towards the sound of Brome's voice. "Kreeah! Is this how you treat messengers? Blind them and make harsh demands?"

"It's no better than they way you scum stole my wife!" Gonff's voice was devoid of its usual humor now that he faced one of the birds that had actually taken Columbine.

Martin however kept his cool though there was no mistaking the steel in his voice. "Speak your piece raven and answer the question. Why have you come here?"

"I am Shadowclaw, servant of the Great Lupisto and I will only parley on fair terms. Remove the blindfold. You can see I am unarmed."

At a nod from Martin the blindfold was removed. He once again addressed the raven. "Now Shadowclaw you claim to be a messenger. What message do you have?"

From a leather pouch Shadowclaw tossed a parchment scroll at the Warrior's footpaws. Just as suddenly the raven shot into the air and flew to the southeast. The eagles were about to take flight in pursuit when a call from Martin stopped them. "Hold! Let that one leave!"

"Why Martin?" Stobon was a bit indignant. "He might have seen Redwall and been able to tell Lupisto of our location."

Martin bent down to pick up the scroll as he answered. "The raven came under flag of truce and will be allowed to leave in the same fashion. Besides I'm sure if Lupisto's army was on the march to Redwall you would have seen it by now."

"Enough dilly-dallying already and read the bloomin' scroll." Gonff was impatient.

Using a small belt knife Martin slit the seal to unroll the scroll. As he read his anger grew and his grip clenched harder and harder on the parchment.

To the Undeserving ones called Martin and Gonff,

Know truly that the ones called Laterose and Columbine are even in this moment under my expert care. Mine newest Flurem Woo-es seemed have taken to their new home remarkable well. Even so discouraging tales have begun to spread. While I knowest not from whence said stories have come from I have been forced to take extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of mine charges.

As such Laterose and Columbine have been placed under the careful guard of mine benevolent Allpack. Unfortunately mine host has had to deny them many of the comforts they once enjoyed, but their new accommodations, while small, allow for their safety to be properly ensured.

Should you attempt to violate the territory of mine Allpack I shall have no choice but to increase my protection of the aforementioned Flurem Woo-es. Thou may have struck two minor victories, but the greatness of the Allpack has been in no way diminished. Forget any plans thou has for attacks on mine host. They shall fail utterly and completely.

Lupisto

Brome and Gonff looked at Martin who was standing stock still under the falling leaves of Mossflower. The Warrior read the missive several times before he looked up. Martin took a few steps forward before he tossed the parchment into the air. Reaching behind him he drew his sword from the scabbard on his back. In a flash of silver the keen blade sliced at the parchment until it looked like Nameday table decorations.

Martin the Warrior turned back to his friends with fire blazing in his eyes. "We march in two day's time."

A/N; Alright let's get things really going. No big note from me this time. I just can't really think of anything to say other than I look forward to your feedback as always.