Chapter Twenty-Six
Peony would never deny that she had suffered through some bad wakings in her time. The most frightening ones usually involved being in too close a proximity to Sergeant Saxifrage's footpaws. This one however, might win in comparison to all the others. She came to realize first that it was a combination of the terrible din and the noxious smell that had woken her and second that she was in the middle of a camp tied to a post on a high platform while toads danced around her either waving tridents and torches or putting brush and firewood under her footpaws.
A fat toad wearing the most ridiculous headpiece of feathers and bones waddled up to her and looked at all the medals on her tunic. He grabbed a shiny one with emerald encrusted snake eyes on it and showed it to a smaller toad that flopped over to them.
Both toads looked at her medals and beautiful officer's rapier with something akin to reverence.
The smaller toad tried to speak to Peony in a language which was composed of many grunts and gargling noises and seemed frustrated when she didn't understand. He called over a mean looking newt who spoke to the Major with an annoyingly smug voice.
"The King and his son say Good Day to you, Rabbit and how much of an honor it is to meet such a fine leader of warriors."
Peony spat at him. "You can tell slime face that I would slice him up into Frog meat just as soon as he unties me."
The toads seemed to understand what she yelled at him and rather than insulted, they seemed pleased. The newt spoke again after the King Toad had given him directions. "The King and his warriors prepare to go to war with the Brushtail so we sacrifice you, the great long eared warrior, to the Great Toad to appease him and offer us luck again the Wiley One."
"Sacrifice?" said Peony blinking against the terrible smell and din that threatened to drive her back into the peaceful oblivion of unconsciousness.
The toads and the newt laughed at her and made gurgling noises as they hut their heads with their webbed hands and rolled their eyes back in their heads. Peony was sure that they were making fun of her.
"Our warriors saw you last night fighting the other long ears and the brushtail. You're death will please the gods and give us luck in our battle tomorrow and as we feast on your flesh will be strengthened and share in your strength and skill."
"When will the sacrifice begin?"
The toads laughed again. The newt said with a twisted smile, "When the gods are ready. Sunset."
CCC
The hares looked on as Jonquil crouched over the footprints. Oswego stood tall and walked over with a swagger in his step as he passed Turnsol tied between Tobias and Saxifrage. "What manner of creature is it, Jon?"
"Toad," said the taller hare straightening up. Jon looked over at Turnsol for confirmation. The Captain's eyes blazed as he stared back at the archer. "Turnsol is the true expert in tracks, Oswego, shouldn't we…" started Jonquil.
"That's Major Oswego," said the hare.
"Acting Major Oswego," Jonquil corrected. "Shouldn't we ask the Captain as well?"
"I think not," said Oswego. "Turnsol has been court-martialed and is a prisoner. He has no say in our affairs."
"Really, Oswego," said Sergeant Saxifrage disapprovingly as he grabbed a hold of Turnsol's arm as the boxing hare tried to lunge at the temporary leader. "You're taking this a bit too far. Turnsol is incarcerated yes, but you bally well have no authority to court-marshal him. You know that only his commanding officer can do so with the permission of the rest of the Council."
"I am the leader of this patrol, therefore, I am his commanding officer."
"Turnsol still outranks you, Oswego. He has not been court-marshaled, only temporarily removed from his rank," said Sergeant Saxifrage. "And the council is the other creatures of rank, myself and Toby. I can flippin' well say for myself that this is a temporary condition. Right, Toby?"
"Indubitably," replied the younger Lieutenant.
"Let's stop arguing and start tracking these toads that kidnapped Peony," said Beech. "We don't can't be sure how much time we have to waste."
"Right you are, bushtail," said Tobias. "Jon and I will start tracking the major. Fleetpaw, I want you to scout ahead to find where Regolith's army is. Maybe we can use those hordes to our advantage."
"Shut up, Toby," said Oswego. "I'm giving the orders here. Don't you move Fleetpaw or I'll cut off your legs."
"Really, Oswego," said Saxifrage. "Don't make me restrain you too. Everyone is acting so unreasonable."
CCC
Peony glanced down at the rapidly increasing pile of brush and kicked at it with her footpaws. Things were going to be getting very hot, very soon.
She had tried to use her rapier to cut through the ropes, but she wasn't able to move it from its sheath with her paws and footpaws both tied so tightly. She had also tried to use the small dagger she has sheathed on her lower arm but had thus far not gotten it near enough to the ropes to saw through them. She most likely wouldn't be able to break out of this pickle without outside help.
Outside help? No doubt when they found her missing for this extent of time they would be in conflict about how to proceed. They would be torn in their duties. Would they hasten to save their superior officer or to Redwall's rescue. In such a case as this with Redwall in such grave danger, the natural course would be to move out and hurry to Redwall. The long patrol was rather small, but they were reinforced with Dann's friends and the otters, so they could send an auxiliary force to search for her and the majority to continue to Redwall.
She sighed. She didn't expect any help to come, she was insignificant in comparison to Redwall. But she couldn't help but feel a certain twinge of regret and betrayal when thinking of Turnsol marching towards Redwall with their companions, now the Major of the patrol. It would be his duty, but wasn't she his closest friend?
The newt who was the translator between herself and the Toad King and his son seemed to be in an argument with his majesty. It seemed these "religious rituals" where more complicated than the toads had at first realized. A blessing in disguise really, prolonging her anticipation or disappointment when no one came.
She glanced over at the idol they were making next to her pyre from woven vines; it seemed to be the rather crude image of a toad.
She twisted her wrist, slowing moving the dagger towards her paws. Success! She started sawing at the ropes.
CCC
Turnsol had convinced Lieutenant Tobias and Sergeant Saxifrage to untie him and let him assist them in their planning of Peony's rescue. Oswego sat with his arms crossed glaring at his superior officer. Dann sat sharpening his sword and looking pensive.
"There are bally well too many toads for us to attack them head on. We're outnumbered at least ten to one," said Tobias. "But when Fleetpaw returns with the location of Regolith's army, we can draw the Toads away from their camp and into Regolith's. That way we can decrease Regolith's numbers and draw the toads away so we can free Peony."
"But how can we lead all the Toad's armies away? Will the lot of us charge in weapons shinning, and then run off?" Oswego asked, "We'll be cut down before we get anywhere near Regolith. We have no idea of his position. It could take days to reach him even if any of us survive to lead the toads there."
"Toads are known to be superstitious. Perhaps we can trick then with some slight of hand and magical potions while we get Peony out of the camp," said Turnsol. "Do we still have those magic salts and coppers those foxes from Hamath gave us?"
"You're going to use something foxes from Hamath gave us?" said Oswego angrily. "They aren't to be trusted."
Jonquil walked up to them with Willow. "This little lady's given me an idea of how we can save Peony."
Turnsol looked at them with interest. "Well, spit it out."
Willow fiddled with the edge of her sleeve and directed most of her attention towards Dann. "When my father designed the Castle for Regolith, he had an idea of a defensive system to set up in the courtyard, but decided against it. He didn't want to make Regolith too powerful. You rig bows in the forest to pepper a certain area with arrows. Make the toads think we have more soldiers and give you cover."
"And you know how to set this up?" said Dann skeptically.
"Not really," started the squirrelmaid.
Dann huffed. "We don't have time to waste building dollhouses and wings to fly and bows that shoot by themselves suggested by foolish squirrel maidens. It's a fool's errand. I'm going to go and find Fleetpaw." With that the squirrel warrior stood up and walked away, ignoring Willow's pleading gaze.
Willow dropped her head, he cheeks flaming with embarrassment. "It's not a foolish idea, darlin'," said Saxifrage. He patted the log next to him. "Come with next to the Sarge and show us what you mean."
Turnsol sighed. "I don't see how this will help Peony."
"Peony would listen to the maid and see how we could use her idea to our advantage," said Saxifrage. "Perhaps it will hold the key to Peony's escape."
"I suppose."
"You're the best with figurin' and geometry. If anyone can pull it off, it's you,
Turnsol," said Tobias.
Oswego huffed and also walked off as Willow started to draw figures in the dirt with one of Toby's knives.
CCC
The sun was finally starting to set, painting the sky in majestic purples and reds. All the toads had a jaunt in their step as they bustled around the camp making plans for tonight's sacrifice and tomorrow's battle. A pair of toads with particularly unpleasant looking faces had set themselves up in front of Peony, sharpening their tridents and taking long swigs of unpleasant tasting grog. Peony had finally freed her paws and the ropes around her waist, but was unable to reach the ones around her footpaws without catching the toads' attention. The time for the lighting of the pyre had come too soon.
Some toads had lit a fire in a pit slightly off to the side and were taking swigs of the same foul grog and spitting it into the fire and laughing when the fire shot up at them.
The moved aside hastily as the Toad King walked up to the pit. He lighted a torch from the pit and handed it to the Newt before sitting next to the Toad Idol with his son.
The Toads started chanting excitedly before the Newt lifted the torch and pointed it at Peony. When he made the Prayer to their god, he did so in words Peony understood.
"The Great One will bless us in battle tomorrow with our enemies because we the faithful have promised him the blood of the great long-eared warrior. Her spirit will make our forces invincible against those of the Heathen vermin!"
He started walking slowly and dramatically towards her before the pit erupted in green flame. The newt danced back from the pit and stood next to the Toad King holding the torch in terror. All eyes were rooted on the flames, so Peony crouched down and quickly sawed through the ropes around her footpaws. She was no longer attached to the pyre, but she had nowhere to run. A terrible and powerful voice arose above the clamoring of the toads.
"I the Great One look down with favor on my faithful ones." The fire turned purple. "I see a great victory tomorrow morn."
The toads cheered and the flames turned into a marvelous blinding white. She closed her eyes; the light was almost painful in its brilliance.
Peony heard an arrow hit the pole above her head. She opened one eyes against the light and saw a thick cord extending into the woods on a downward slant. The fire was changing colors again and now was emitted a great amount of smoke to blur almost everything from her vision and those around her.
Luckily none of the toads had noticed the cord and the arrow yet, the colored smoke and flames made it hard to see anything but what was in front of you. There was a note tied onto the end of the arrow. It was in Turnsol's hand.
Peony-
Use the bow to slide down the cord
while Cinnabar's distracting them
and we'll meet you on the other side.
The bow must have fallen off before it hit the post, so Peony untied her belt and held her rapier in the teeth and slid down the line. Turnsol grabbed her even before she landed and grasped onto her tightly.
"We were worried about you, missy," said Borage winking.
"Isn't this a hoot!" said Cinnabar laughing. "Toads are so stupid."
"Cut the cord, Jon. Peony's here. Be ready to wheel in the cord, Beech and Willow" whispered Turnsol.
Cinnabar continued in his loud voice as the Toad God. "I have already taken the long-eared warrior and am most pleased with this gift. Go on and fight in my name."
The smoke started to clear and Peony heard Willow whisper, "Ready."
The fire turned a blinding red this time and then they were running as fast as they could away from the Toad camp, holding their weapons at the ready.
"By the left am I glad to see you. I was trying to figure out how I was going to battle my way through all those nasty toads," said Peony between breaths as she ran next to Turnsol.
She tied back on her belt and nodded to Jonquil as he ran up to see them. "What happened to the bow we gave you?" Jonquil asked.
"It must have fallen off when you sent it towards me. That was brilliant though. Great slight of hand. You'll have to tell me all about what happened when we can stop running," Peony gasped out.
She glanced around at the others running with her and only counted six. "Are the rest marching to Redwall?" asked Peony.
"Not yet," said Borage huffing and puffing to keep up with the others.
"The rest are waiting for us with the packs," said Willow. She leapt over a fallen branch. "I can't hear any signs of pursuit."
"That's good," said Peony. "I won't mind a scrap of vittles. Almost getting sacrificed and eaten can sure give a gal an appetite."
In no time, they burst into a clearing and Peony almost collided with Sergeant Saxifrage. He pulled her into a tight embrace. "It's good to see you, Peony."
"Any pursuers?" Lieutenant Tobias asked Captain Turnsol.
"No," answered the Captain.
She glanced around at the others running over greet to her and her jubilant smile turned to an expression of worry. "Where's Fleetpaw? And Dann?"
Toby answered the Major's question. "I sent him out to scout out Regolith's camp and report back to us."
"Dann went to get him and lead him back to us. I gave Dann and idea of our future whereabouts," said Oswego.
"Will they be coming here?" asked Peony.
"No," said Turnsol. "We told them to meet us a little farther north."
"Good show, wot," said Peony. "Then let's not linger. Onward and upward, eh chaps."