Chapter 53: Deus Ex Machina
Marople stood upon the walls of Redwall in her armor, her hares by her side and ready as they watched two columns of vermin approach on each side of the walls. The Great Vermin Band looked like it was planning another assault, one on all four sides equally this time to try to thin her numbers, but the Redwallers and hares were ready for them. The two columns approach, with shields pointed upwards, and unshielded vermin in the back. The vermin rushed forward on all sides, as the hares held their fire. The vermin archers, most of Hazul's tribe, fired a few volleys at the hares, but fruitlessly only injured a few unlucky ones, before being fired back upon by the Long Patrol. Hazul and Kylan stood in the back, but the other warlords were joining the main hosts.
The Bloodrack siblings personally led their red painted rats from the tree line, using the cover of the trees to get closer, revealing from the unshielded groups a weaker soldier carrying a rope and hook. Six on each side grappled on the sides of walls, the heavier and armored vermin piling down on each to give them weight before the hares could unhook them. The hares picked their targets well, picking off the vermin they could see with expert precision. Hazul's archers provided minimal cover for the vermin to climb the walls.
Hazul could spot Resker in the far off distance, leading his host more cautiously. The Pine Marten was hiding behind some shielded vermin, trying to draw the snipers on the roof of the abbey to keep their attention on him. A couple tried, but Resker commanded Hazul's archers to bring down the hares who would swiftly retreat. One hare got a bit too close, and the Pine Marten retreated further back, farther beyond the trenches.
Climbing up ropes was cheaper than building ladders, but the risk of them Hazul knew was far more costly. The vermin climbing up the ropes had be in very good shape, heaving up with immense trust they could do so quickly to scale the walls and create a breach to allow the weaker and less fit vermin to reinforce them. Kylan was convinced such a tactic would work wonders, but Hazul knew better. He had hoped by thinning the Long Patrol he could reduce their advantage considerably, but instead all he did was given the Long Patrol practice.
Vermin barely were able to move up onto the walls, climbing wildly and far too quickly. By the time a warrior was on the wall, he was gutted and sent flying down by a group of hares who easily slew them without breaking a sweat. Hazul wondered if hares tired, but as the vermin drew closer, the hares wasted no time throwing rocks and boiling oils down upon the vermin horde. Hazul looked to his brother, who was folding his paws and looking out with disgust.
"Kylan, bring out force back into line. We are done for the day."
"Battle barely even started, though! Look, it'll work!" Kylan insisted, the fat warlord growled out in anger as he pointed "See, me boys are making der way over der walls an' maken room! Me captain Nosecheese is nearly-"
"You're captain Nosecheese is runnen from der battlefield, weasel." Kejam scoffed. Nosecheese wasn't running, but he was angrily marching out of the battle, with blood on his whiskers and wiping away blood from his blade. Kylan was surprised "Ya stupid beast, I thought ya be up der!?"
"We were chief!" Nosecheese defensively said "We can't do it! Half der boys are falling from der ropes cause dem hares are pouring oil an' butter on it! Dem archers are killen a lot of me good boys too, an' we can't-"
"I order ya to get back in der an' take dis stinken abbey!" Kylan rushed to his afraid captain, shaking him harshly and throwing him to the ground. Nosecheese backed away in mortal fear, but Hazul huffed. "Order your vermin to retreat, you insolent fish-faced cretan. Last thing we need to tell Markem is that half of his horde is dead because you are too stubborn to see what is happening."
Kylan marched away, to do as bidded by growling, rambling, and cursing as he went. Hazul and his brother walked along the far end of the wall, looking out at the doomed assault. Hazul had no intention of taking Redwall today, he was more interested in prodding at the Long Patrol, reducing their ammunition for their snipers and archers, although he had decided to not tell his fellow warlords this. Predictably, the vermin began to retreat, losing heart as they routed back to their camp, the Long Patrol trying to fire on whoever they could. Many of the vermin dove into ditches, and others retreated a bit further into the camps.
Kejam grunted "Walls are too thick, Hazul. Too high. Every time we have assaulted them, it has been one failure after the other."
Hazul was silent, moving his way around the abbey's outer walls and into Resker's camp where the pine marten was licking his wounds. Hazul coldly looked out at the abbey, his thoughts were open to his brother "Ladders will take too long to rebuild and move up, beasts don't have the morale for a prolonged assault, not that Markem will want it. Every casualty we give to the woodlanders inside means one less mouth to feed for them. Had Kylan not tried to assault this place a few times, those hares would be starving by now no doubt. Gluttons, the lot of them."
"These are Long Patrol, Hazul. Not rogues an' mercenaries. The long ears know how to survive a siege, and the Redwallers are likely already well stocked."
Hazul squinted, looking down at the walls, and specifically at the ground of the walls. "They are spiritually protected, Kejam. The spirit of Martin looms over strongly in that place, we have not seen the wraith make its mark just yet. I know those damned fools mock us behind my back, and if we don't make progress, they'll mutiny."
"Then we keep sending at the walls." Kejam evily smiled "Let their vermin do the major work, let my rats hang back. Keep them in line with dead vermin."
Hazul blinked as he looked upon the red walls of the abbey, his paws retreating behind his back as the water rat tried to think "We can't assault the walls, the spirit won't allow us. We stay put and our own vermin, under some manner of curse no doubt, will kill us. Kejam, could we remove the curse you think?"
"You're the sorcerer brother." Kejam huffed "These matters are yours alone. Perhaps we could get the shamans to-"
"Wait." Hazul thought, having a sudden idea. He came forward and looked towards the ground, looking back up at the abbey whose hares were cheering yet another victory. Hazul turned suddenly around, marching off as Kejam caught up to him. Hazul marched over to Resker, frustrated and knocking back one of his vermin trying to dress a scratch on his arm "Get me a proper healer from der slave pens, ya babbling fool! Hells to you an' yer blasted-" Resker turned his anger towards Hazul who showed himself, although he noticed the looming monster that was Kejam first who stood over his little brother like a shadow.
"Der hell ya want, our assault failed. I told ya ropes were a poor way to-"
"Nevermind that, do you have shovels Resker?" Hazul asked. Resker raised a curious eyebrow "I mean, aye? Bloodracks got more, we've been having der slavebeasts build trenches all along der walls fer weeks now. We just started putting dem around our outer camp, dey-"
"Grab them." Hazul ordered. Resker growled, pushing past a few vermin to Hazul "What der meaning of this, whatcha up to!? Ya goin to actually tell us, or do we gotta ask our shamans to guess?"
"Those walls won't be breached by normal means, Resker. It is physically and spiritually protected, do you recall the tales of Cluny? How his beasts dug under the fortifications? It nearly worked."
"Aye, I know der old tales. Dey also got demselves nearly killed when dey got poured on by boiling porridge."
"We don't need to breach the main courtyard." Hazul slowly grinned, and then pointed to the walls of the abbey "The walls have strong foundations. They are blessed upon the outside, but who is to say they won't collapse the moment we knock them down from below? Resker, spread word, grab shovels for our soldiers and any trustworthy slave, have them start digging towards the walls and bring them down. We'll mine the walls of the abbey into the ground."
Resker paused and raised a paw "Hazul, ya sure? What if Markem wants to save dem walls when we take der abbey?"
Hazul scoffed "Markem can rebuild the walls with all the slaves we will give him when we take what remains of the abbey. The shrine inside that place is far more valuable than the walls outside of it. Now go. I will smack Kylan into action if need be. Have your skirmishing beasts distract the abbey, and any slaves building the trenches, I want them making more ammo for our skirmishers. Less they know the better."
Resker smiled at the thought, and was even a bit proud as the crazed, zealous water rat and his brother left for the Bloodrack camp with a fineness to his step. Resker turned to his vermin, puzzled and unsure what to do next. Resker smacked at them "Well!? Get to work ya lot! Bring down dem walls!"
_
Lufan and Siegfried continued to lead their vermin refugees through the forests of Mossflower, camping on the road itself. The vermin were frightened, as Lufan and his mole friend felt like petty warlords, having to lead a small horde to Redwall. This was a joke passed around the vermin camp, with younger vermin coming up to them to swear mock allegiance to pretend to be captains. These youngsters amused Lufan and Siegfriend, who joined in the joke for their own amusement, although their real 'captains' were handing out orders to forage for food and scout ahead. As they rested, Lufan and Siegfried were at first jovial to be away from the horrors of Southward.
Until the sky began to rain ash.
As the group marched closer to Redwall, they stopped and looked up, an ashy rain began to descend upon them ominous from above. Lufan touched the ash in his paw, shattering upon touch to turn his paw a painted white. There was murmur amongst the vermin, even a short panic as Lufan frowned "This isn't coming from Redwall, is it?"
"Wund is guin frum dur south." Siegfried said, looking back to where he once came. Lufan did as well, and was terrified. "How close you think they are!?" He whispered, not wanting to cause his group further panic. Siegfried shook his head, unsure "Ash luke dus cumes frum furost fuires, hudgehug. Unless dur yella cluds are burnen duwn dur whule furest, dun-"
"We should hurry." Lufan said more firmly. He looked behind his friend, trying to keep a confident smile and yelling at them "We march quicker now, they are still a ways behind us."
"A-are dey following us?" One of the vermin asked. Lufan was silent to his answer, and simply turned, unsure what to even say. The vermin followed much more closely and with greater speed as the group continued on. The next few days were more silent, fearful as most were. One of the vermin families broke off from the group, making a drastic run towards middle Mossflower. Has Lufan wanted to keep the vermin under his wing, he'd be much more worried of them abandoning him with how deadly silent they were.
They marched towards Redwall, seeing the great red walls on the horizon. Blocked by a small hill and some forests, Lufan and Siegfried felt relief to see the abbey in the far off distance, although their relief turned to concern once they began to see smoke and fire rising near it. The group stopped when one of their scouts came back, huffing with partial amazement.
"Yer not gonna believe it, ya two! Look!" The vermin scouts showed Lufan and Siegfried from a small hidden hill as they overlooked the massive vermin camp surrounding Redwall itself. Lufan and his mole friend were mortified to see so many vermin in one place, let alone how organized their camps were. The vermin scouts were not as terrified, and in fact they were kinda excited. They informed the two what they were seeing, pointing out sentries, towers, and sigils on various banners around the camp.
"Seasons, dis horde truly is massive! Never seen any of dis before. Dem orange clad fellows are from Jusbrag, big ol' vermin city up north in der plains an' wastes. Black an' red banners are from Luzland, I dink I even see some Great Marsh silver. Black an' brown banners though, dat be a real mystery I dinks to me. Though dem black banners may be black clads of Kasg's horde, I don't know fer certain."
"I can smell der vittles from here!"
"Served by woodlander paws." Lufan said with a bit of spite. The two scouts silenced themselves as they looked down to see a large kitchen mess, full of woodlanders cooking for the huge vermin horde. Lufan found it curious, most looked a lot healthier than suspected, and were all wearing ropes around their necks. The four snuck back to their group as Lufan gathered the vermin to tell them the somewhat good news.
"Come around, all of you, there is much to talk about! There is a horde just beyond the hill, surrounding Redwall. This is where we must depart. For those who wish to join with this horde, we know little of it, but for those who wish to head to Middle Mossflower, the path is that way." Lufan pointed up the road and beyond the grassy plains and hills, leading to darker forests beyond. There was a murmur amongst the vermin, some concerned and some excited. One of the vermin scouts gleefully told them all the nice things they had seen in the camp, exciting some of the younger members. Two families, not sure of the horde's structure, silently gathered their things and headed north, leaving a vast majority amongst Lufan and Siegfried's group.
Lufan awaited the vermin to get orderly, and eventually spoke up as they listened. "I wouldn't ask a favor if I needed it, good beasts, but we need one."
The vermin paused to pay attention, feeling they owed the hedgehog for helping them get north. Lufan sighed and spoke after an awkward cough "I need some of you to warn the horde if you can of the Southwarders if you can, but we need to head inside the abbey and warn them as well. Those are Long Patrol on the walls, and they need our help."
"Ya ask a lot." One of the vermin said "Sneaking ya through a siege will be difficult."
"Yut must bue dune." Siegfried coldly replied. One of the braver patriarches of their clan came forward and nodded, his bravery brought forward two others "We'll help ya. Ya got a plan ya had in mind."
Lufan smiled and nodded "Yes, actually."
_
It was night at Redwall, but a half moon overhead, reminding the vermin and woodlanders alike how much time had passed since the siege began. Weeks passed without Markem, and the word around the camp became dim and depressing. In the midst of the darkness of the camp, Bagon and Burnel were walking amongst the camp of Hazul's tribe with their uneaten rations. Their black robes kept them unseen from most, as Bagon grunted as he tugged at the rope of his neck. One of Hazul's rats not too long ago had decided to act cruelly to the two brothers, humiliating Bagon by undoing the rope collar and then reattaching it a bit tighter than before. This wasn't uncommon apparently as both would learn.
The two wandered and looked out at Redwall, both frowned as they had hoped to see the great abbey in their lifetime as coming to see its festivities and look upon its tapestry to see if they could find their ancestor Keyla upon it. Now it seemed they would be marching with bent backs and carrying out the abbey's treasures to a looting camp if Markem has his way. Bagon joked "Well, at least Uncle Kaspan isn't here, or we'd be getting an earful."
Burnel sighed sadly "Aye. If Uncle Kaspan were here, I'd think he'd be dragging us by the rudders all the bleeding way back to the holt and whacking us."
"You think Martin's spirit is in there?" Bagon suddenly asked. Burnel huffed "If there are spirits in the abbey, there needs to be more of em an' needs to help those poor beasts out more. You see all those new vermin come in? They are building all those tunnels to collapse those walls. Seasons, can't believe it'd be us who gets to see this ol' abbey fall down for good. Can't believe after all this trouble, the vermin are going to just. Well. Win."
"They won't, surely."
"How can they not? Woodlanders opening gates for them, turning back the Long Patrol on the very field of battle? Kasg nearly overwhelmed the home country! The heck Bagon, these truly are the darkest of days!" Burnel complained openly, but quickly silenced himself. Bagon didn't answer, instead looking at two interesting figures approaching the main trench line. It was a hedgehog and mole in rags, heavily covered but strangely neither could see ropes about their necks, and were flanked by a rat and fox.
Burnel hadn't noticed and continued to complain "All those tales of freedom, and for what!? Just so the descendents of Keyla can be the first ones getting their grubby, bleeding paws on the abbey his friend founded? What a joke. Seasons damned us long ago, Bagon. They take our blasted blood cause of him, and now it's only fitting we get to be unwilling looters for his sakes too! Gah!"
Bagon raised and eyebrow, not at his brother's rating, but the strangers approaching the trench and waiting for a sentry to pass by. The mole unfurled a crossbow from a sack and began to load it with a bolt, dousing the end with oil and lighting it with a nearby torch. The mole took aim, waiting as he looked from side to side and suddenly fired at the walls. Bagon's eyes followed the bolt as it zoomed past the walls and over one of the looking hares who had to partly duck to not get hit. The mole and hedgehog began to frantically wave their arms and began to rush forward with a rope more seen curled around the hedgehog's shoulder.
"Bagon!? Are you listening to me?" Burnel asked annoyed, and was about to continued when he paused to hear alarms being rang out. Some of the sentries noticed and were rushing forward. The fox and rat flanking the two woodlanders retreated and distracted some of the creatures as the words 'Slaves escapen!' and 'Get'em! Quickly!" The hares had already climbed the walls as Lufan and Siegfried made it the walls, huffing and taking off their rags. Lufan jumped his rope far up for one of the hares to catch and immediately began to try to climb.
Lufan was wide eyed in terror as the hares struggled to try to save these two foolish creatures. Five archers came upon the walls, firing down at some the vermin trying to reach the two, but Siegfried was already loading his crossbow and fired quickly into one vermin's face who got uncomfortably close. When it became clear that Lufan nor Siegfried could climb up in time, one of the hares shouted "Get the badger mother! Quickly!"
Bagon and Burnel watched from afar, mystified as light shined upon the awkward woodlanders climbing as fast and clumsily as they could up the rope, with vermin catchers quickly being replaced by soon as Stenna found herself on the walls in her nightgown, she began to quickly hoist the two upward. Siegfried and Lufan held on for dear life, with Siegfried catching an arrow to his side which bounced off his armor. The vermin who has escorted the two found themselves being escorted back, and the cries of angry vermin and jeering hares were heard.
Bagon smiled at this and nudged his brother.
"Ya gotta lighten up, Burnel. Redwall ain't lost just yet it seems."
Burnel huffed "Gonna take more than two woodlanders to save that abbey, Bagon."
_
The great hall was cluttered with beasts as Bollo and Kalma found themselves at the far back of a large line of hares and abbeybeasts who were murmuring with one another. The night before, the abbey was awoken by hares thinking they were going to be assaulted again, only to be suddenly having to rush to help two supposedly escaped slaves climb the walls of the the abbey in time before they were had. Bollo and Kalma were the last to wake, with Marthomis trying to yell over the curious beasts who had gathered in the hall to meet these strangers.
"Please! Everyone! Back up a little more and give these poor beasts some room to breath!"
Bollo and Kalma frowned and began to push their way through till they got to the middle of the great hall's center where Lufan and Siegfried were happily chugging down some fine red wine. Bollo raised an eyebrow to Siegfried in particular, a mole warrior with a large crossbow at his side and looking like some manner of mercenary, while Lufan looked like some destitute, homeless fool and beggar. Yet, none of them looked like they worked under the vermin lash, nor did they look particularly all that important. Marople blinked and looked angry, still yelling at the two with clear discontent.
"I will bolly have none of that, abbot! You fool creatures, firing a bolt like that across the walls like that, a flaming one at that! What if you had caused a bloody fire, or worse, hit some poor beast!"
Stenna huffed, her presence could be felt even if she was sitting at one of the the tables "It didn't sound like they had much time, hare. No need to be so upset at them."
"I'm bloody upset these two fool beasts snuck through an entire vermin camp just to add two mouths to feed! You two better be worth all that effort last night, or I am trading you two to those vermin out there for vittles!"
Lufan meekishly apologized "I-I am sorry, but it was urgent. We had to get inside, and quickly!"
The group grew silent and listened in, as Lufan and Siegfried exchanged looks. They were about to say a lot of things of their adventures, about what they saw and what was coming. Yet, the two had seemed something far more distressing.
"We were already intending to come in, mam. To-" Lufan stopped himself. He really didn't want to tell the hare he had stood by while Frankfort likely ordered the execution of her comrades. None of them knew, but if he knew sieges, he knew that morale was important. He would have to discuss it in privacy. "Nevermind that, but we saw holes mam. Large holes, with large piles of dirt stacked up like a small hill! They were lined all across the vermin camp, slaves and vermin coming out with barrels of dirt! They are digging."
Bollo's eyes widened and stepped forward, immediately asking "Huw yuo knuw?"
Siegfried spoke up, smiling with hidden pride for the knowledge only moles knew about holes and digging. "Wuren't nu burrow fur fuud ur sume munner of lutrine, tis a diggun hule. Nut as guud as any mule hole dut be fur certuin, dur diggun tuwurds dur abbuy, wuy to smull to fit a suldier in, but big enough fur wurkers to cume out wit mud an' silt an dur nuses. I be dinkun dey mean to cullapse yur wulls."
There was a loud murmur amongst the crowd as Marople shushed them. There was a horrified concern amongst the hares especially. It was true, they had a team of moles who could dig tunnels to connect the tunnels and try to claim them before the vermin set to work on collapsing the walls, but that whole notion was dangerous. Hares weren't adapted to fighting in such conditions, and the beasts who were had no experience in such matters. Marople sighed and spoke up to her crowd of friends and subordinates "We may not like it, but we can't have the walls collapse to allow the vermin to massacre us. Bollo, can you and your moles start building new tunnels beneath the abbey? We'll need to send in small teams to deal with the workers beneath us."
Bollo nodded and quickly left, calling out to his moles "Guthur in dur muin courtyurd, double time!" The group began to follow Bollo outside as Lufan and Siegfried exchanged looks of concern. They silently agreed they would speak of Southward later, when this trouble had passed, and followed the group outside. Bollo and his moles quickly began to set up supplies, and before Marople could even inspect the ground, Bollo and his moles were digging a massive hole in the courtyard. Garfan and Kana, who were above on the walls, were confused when they looked down to see the commotion.
Siegfried laid down his crossbow and joined in to help as the Redwallers and hares got together to quickly move the extra dirt to the side. Lufan and Kalma looked down at the hole being dug, with a tunnel now leading north of the abbey as Lufan had a wretched idea.
"It's not going to work." He said with depression. Kalma looked at him and tried to be more cheerful "Oh, don't say that. We haven't even begun fighting yet."
"There could be hundreds of holes, and we could just be doing their work for them. The problem is out there."
"How did you get past all those vermin to start with?" A voice came from behind them. A sleepless and half mad looking Kana was staring at them, holding per paws in an awkward manner. Lufan blinked and spoke truthfully "We were leading a group of vermin up from the south and they helped us sneak past the main camp."
Garfan came up and spoke next, his face sullen with worry "Did you happen to see two youngsters by chance? A squirrel and a mouse?"
Lufan shook his head much to both's dismay. Garfan then squinted his eyes at Lufan in distrust, and spoke with a more threatening tone "You mention vermin and the south? Odd for something like that to happen, hmm?"
"Enough of that Garfan." Kalma firmly chided. Garfan however didn't let up, angrily speaking "We had enough happen to us to be suspicious of any strangers to the abbey, Kalma. As head protector and captain here, it's my duty to make sure we aren't being tricked. I see were digging up holes in the courtyard and no one tells me what is going on?"
Lufan tried to be informative "Well, yes, you see the vermin are building tunnels outside. Siegfried, my friend, says they are going to try to collapse the walls an-"
"And were digging straight to them." Garfan huffed "How do we know they are digging at all?"
Lufan was taken almost aback by such distrust, but it did feel all too familiar. He wondered if this is what Eskert felt towards him. Bollo popped his head up from the hole and spoke loudly, with a large cylinder sticking out of his ear. "Yup, dur be diggun alright, nut even dut far from dur wulls eder!" Garfan silenced himself, and sighed. He pinched his nose and apologized in a dark manner. "I am sorry, hedgehog. Things have not been good here. The Companions, supposed friends of our warrior Jue, had shown their true colors and betrayed us. They escaped into the vermin camp."
Garfan himself was also taken aback when Lufan didn't even seem surprised by such a thing and nodded "Oh. Well, that is, ummm. Unfortunate."
"What were you and the vermin escaping from?" Garfan asked again, but the two were interrupted by Bollo yelling "Wut yuo wunna du, hare?" Marople spoke up "Try to connect the tunnels to their own, we'll send out hares to harass them and plug up the holes where we can."
Siegfried came out next, dirt all across his finer armor and huffing "Bud news i'm afruid. Dur be mure dut wuy, diggun hurd an' fust." Siegfried pointed northward. Marople felt at a loss, and tried to keep her composure for her hares. Kalma then spoke up "Marople, mam. You remember that trick we did not too long ago with the armor? Could we do that again?"
"Unless we can get Martin's ghost to haunt dark tunnels, then sadly no, wot."
Lufan had an idea, speaking up "Maybe not see, but hear? Siegfried, moles can hear underground. What about vermin?"
"Nut vury wull, but dey'll hear us diggun an' talkun." Marople began to smile, thinking on such possibilities. She imemdiatly began looking for hares amongst her army who had good voices, loud and strange. Bollo blinked, but caught on to what the idea was. He spoke below to his working moles "Build sume pusts all alung dur wulls!" The moles did as bidded and set to work. Lufan and Kalma joined in as Garfan was left only wondering what Lufan would had said, but such a thing was not forgotten by Kalma who nudged the hedgehog as they began to trudge up dirt and rocks.
"You said something about escape, escape from what?" She asked a bit silently. Lufan gave her a calm look and smiled "I will speak more of it later. But something happened in southern Mossflower. An enemy is coming here. I was actually hoping to find help, and to rescue all those we could find."
"Vermin though?"
"Yes. They needed help the most." Lufan continued to work as the group continued to work diligently, preparing for their next strange defense to keep the Great Vermin Band at bay.
_
Five beasts huddled in the darkness around a metal lamp, with two paws fidgeting as they tried to light it. When a dim light came on, a relief came over the five who all sighed in some manner of relief, although all five coughed and gagged at their work. Two were rats, one was a fox, a ferret, and one extremely unfortunate squirrel. Of the rats, one was very tall and strong looking, while the other was hunched and short legged with half of his tail cut off. All of their clothes were filthy and crusted in dirt and grime, they all looked horrifically miserable as they took up shovels and picks and began to break away in the darkness once more. The lamp's oil was low already, but they knew their overlords cared little for their safety. The squirrel was the only one not officially working, the rope around his neck was wrapped with another rope like a leash to a wheelbarrow he had.
"I can't believe Kylan, dat rump fool!" The fox complained. "Many seasons I served dat fat weasel, an dis what he do der me!? Mining!? Dis is slave's work! Bah!" The fox had been complaining with breathless abandon for days now. The only one who didn't fully mind was the squirrel, sitting and waiting to bring more dirt and gravel up to the piles above him. He in fact chimed in "Aye, couldn't agree more."
The ferret gave a dark look to the squirrel who frowned and silenced himself. The ferret knew what he was doing as he returned to his work, grumbling as well. The squirrel was a slave, sure, but for the past few days he had willingly been following them and working on the tunnels with them. The ferret assumed he was only doing this because Hazul and Kylan had promised the slaves who worked in the tunnels faithfully would be promoted to servants of captains rather than common laborers of the camp, an interesting prospect the meekish slave took at the first oppurtunity. The fox and rats didn't think less of him for it, but he certainly did.
"Bleeding Great Vermin Band." He complained to himself "Next der will be otters leaden weasels, an' mice commanden me around. I just know it."
The rats stopped and shushed the crowd, hearing scratching not far from them. They had been digging for what had felt like days, with large teams all over trying to reach Redwall's walls. It had only been some limited success, as not many vermin had such experiences as this, with rumors that the tunnels that the Bloodracks had been supervising collapsed. The vermin and woodlander in the tunnel felt more safe, as Kylan personally oversaw the construction of the tunnel, and thus knew it was much safer (and grander) than any of the others.
"Ya dink der diggen towards us? Moles an der like?" One of the rats asked the ferret. The ferret huffed "How der hell would I know? Probably. Just keep diggen. Bosses don't like us stoppen."
They continued, but stopped again when they heard the counter-digging stop. Vibrating through the walls, they began to hear a low and deep voice.
"-ware-" The group stopped and looked around as the strange voice echoed in a muffled tone. The work stopped as the fox growled "Der be moles ahead of us ya dink? Der hell we doin den, lets get-"
"Shut yer trap!" The ferret snapped back. The group continued to work but more slowly, before they began to hear shouts and distant screams behind them. Suddenly, a muffled but disturbed scream was heard in front of the ferret who jumped back in fright, landing on his back.
"It-It can't be moles! Dey don't know we be tunnelen towards dem!" One of the rats exclaimed. The ferret thought about it, and it made a bit of sense. There were loud scratches coming in front of him and above him, as the fox began to exclaim in fright "Oh seasons, der dead!? Der be dead dings in der walls!" Then there were noises to their left and right, the rats beginning to panic before the big one jumped up and began to climb he way upward. Even the squirrel was quick to grab his wheelbarrow and try to escape. The squirrel was hampered and decided to take a discarded tool and smash at the thing, escaping with a trail of rope dangling behind him.
The ferret was wide eyed with fear, beginning to wonder. Were the moles digging? They shouldn't be, should they? They couldn't possibly know, they were digging far beyond the tree line! The ferret heard something more clearly "Beware!" In a loud and estranged voice, muffled beyond the dirt. It wasn't too loud, but it was loud enough that it sent the vermin's imaginations into a spiral. The ferret swore he saw a skeletal paw reaching out from the ground at him and he turned to immediately flee, the last to leave.
Kalma and Bollo, snug inside a small hole, couldn't help but chuckle, as Bollo listened to scampering feet aggressively flee.
Outside in the main vermin camp, the mood wasn't so jovial. As if all at once, vermin were fleeing in droves outside their holes only to find Hazul and Kylan jointly interrogating the strangers who had just joined them, begging for them to listen to their tale. Angry at them for allowing two woodlanders, likely spies or agents, through their camp and into Redwall, Hazul was only finishing up his brutal chastising of the rat and fox who had helped Lufan escape into Redwall.
"I don't care one bit for the words of traitors or some other foolery! I should have the both of you beheaded for this, but by Markem's grace I will instead have you digging trenches until the sun itself is gone! Now get these fools out of my-" Hazul and Kylan witnessed as their laborers began to flee their digging hole in increasing numbers, yelling and screaming bloody murder.
"Undead!"
"Demons!"
"Vampires!"
Hazul squinted his eyes in confusion as the chaos unfolded. Kylan came forward to them, rattling his saber in their direction and barking orders "Who said ya can leave der tunnels yet ya fool creatures! Get back in der or i'll be breaking out der whips fer der lot of ya!" Kylan was practically kicking one of the vermin who tried to flee, physically trying to force them back into the tunnels, but the screams of terrified vermin was mixed with refusals to re-enter. Hazul frowned and whispered to one of his captains who went back to the tribe's camp as Hazul slowly stepped forward.
Hazul looked down into the cavernous hole as Kylan screamed at him "Hazul ya dumb fool! Get de's beasts back into der tunnels ya idiot!" Hazul did not, staring deep into the darkness of the hole, as if knowing what was likely down there. Kylan came over to him, trying the shake some sense into him, but Hazul backed away and scolded him "Do not touch me, Kylan. I know what is down there."
"Aye, likely diggers from der main wall! Tell'em dat an' gettem back down der!"
"They wouldn't have known." Hazul huffed "Ghouls. Ghouls are down there, they must be. Hundreds if not thousands are buried in this fields around this place, vermin and woodlander alike. The dead rise against us and-"
"It's not the bleeding undead, cause der undead don't exist!" Kylan was tearing at his ears in frustration "Its just hares an' moles is what it be! It's-"
"Ghouls and ghasts." Hazul quickly corrected. Not far from them, Resker was approaching with his retinue and was watching the two close allies of Markem yell and scream at each other. The pine marten looked annoyed and approached them. Kylan growled and spoke up, yelling at his subordinate "Its not bleeding anyding but hare tricks! An even if it be ghouls an' vampires down der, we are warriors! We return dem to the ground! Now you lot, get back in der or I'll be smashing yer skulls on rocks personally!" He picked on the nearby vermin, his own from Jusbrag, but they were shaking their heads in fear. Kylan was flabbergasted with annoyance and anger. He didn't believe in all this nonsense, Markem didn't either. He wondered what Markem would have been doing. He growled at Hazul "Get a shaman, something, anything! Get'em to bless der tools, der lamps, do something!"
"We will consult the seasons themselves." Hazul grunted. In time, one of Hazul's captains returned the shaman Dala. The fox shaman brought with her a bag of dice and spoke in a dubious tone to them. "These dice were watered with the filth of a wood spirit, my lords. I-"
"We are really deciding all dis on a pair of dice!?" Kylan said with rage. "You stupid fox, I demand ya throw some bleeding water on dem tools an' say what dis fool lot wants to hear, or i'll-"
Dala shot back with a dark look. "Do not interrupt me again, weasel, or I will curse you and your blood for the next hundred years with poor health and worse luck!" Predictably, Kylan silenced himself. Resker found it almost amusing that for a beast who didn't believe in such things, even the stupid and reckless Kylan knew not to challenge a shaman. He'd have laughed, but he didn't want to speak ill of the shaman either and get cursed. I ain't no fool.
Dala took out the dice and came forward "These dice are blessed, if they roll a snake's eyes these tunnels are cursed my lord, and the ghouls are invulnerable to all manner of attacks and must be sealed. No doubt the spirits cry in horror of us disturbing their tombs, but only if the spirits deem us unworthy if the snake's eyes are upon us." Dala shot a look to Hazul, who nodded in agreement. Dala was confident that such luck was impossible, mostly because the dice she held were fake. She threw them in her paw and whispered her spells into it.
She threw the dice upon the ground, and began to frown. These. These aren't my dice. She had no clue what Bagon and Burnel had brought her, these were just common soldier's dice, not her fancier ones, and yet once thrown upon the ground the snake's eyes of two ones were staring back at her. She looked up as Hazul came close and looked down upon it with concern.
"Seal the tunnels, all of them." He ordered. Kylan rushed over, growling "We could have dis abbey by tomorrow, an yer gonna rely on spirits an' foolery to advise us!?"
Dala looked shocked, looking down at the tunnels themselves, but Hazul made up his mind. "I won't sacrifice soldiers to the undead. I will cast spells to make sure they remain in the ground and don't eat our own in this camp. Failure, Kylan, and I will bury you alive in them."
Kylan stormed off, tearing at his fur as Resker frowned. Dala picked up her dice and threw them down again, and again there were snake eyes looking back at her. Dala locked her eyes with a disappointed Resker who grumbled and went to Hazul, trying to argue with the zealot. Dala looked again into the darkness of the tunnels, finding them haunting and backed away in fear of them.
Hazul was the first to arrive in the command tent, the whole debacle with the assault on the abbey left a foul taste in his mouth. Hazul's mind turned to his spells, opening an ancient book above a crude map of the abbey himself, barely noticing Dala Blackeye to his side. Dala was silent, trying to sooth the sorcerer who looked down at his work of spellcrafts and enchantments. Kylan arrived next, almost surprising Hazul who did not expect the always late and bumbling warlord to appear. Kylan took a seat, huffing and grumbling to himself as he picked at his nails with a dagger.
Kylan was giving Hazul a hateful look, and Hazul knew he was giving him that poisoned stare, but didn't acknowledge it. Kylan coughed, trying to get his attention as Hazul slowly looked up from his tome and at the weasel sitting comfortably in a chair.
"Der tunnels are sealed as ya requested, an' as commanded der Redwallers are now safe an' snug in der little abbey, safe from der likes of us. Another couple of blunders like dat, an' we'll be able to just hand Markem right on over to der badger lord on a silver platter."
The sarcasm wasn't as amusing as it seemed when spoken aloud as Hazul growled out and shaped himself up. "If you are implying I am betraying Markem's cause because of bad omens, you can take it up with the seasons themselves."
"I'd love to, really." Kylan rolled his eyes "Ghouls, what a joke! Can't wait to tell der boss about dat one."
"I am certain Markem would love to know why his army, that is supposed to stay put till he gets back, is suddenly so lessened because a certain weasel decided to recklessly assault the abbey. The defenses of the abbey are impeccable, but not invulnerable. Even without the spirits, such work could have taken months. The Bloodracks lost a good amount of vermin from a tunnel collapse, and even more are dead from a stampede in Lusket's camp."
Kylan grumbled as the other warlords slowly came in. Hazul could see they were not happy at all, and immediately were laying down problems in a passive aggressive tone at his feet.
"We had some bad runners, slave an' vermin alike. Two tried to flee an' we hanged dem outside der camp."
"My boys are loot an' blood hungry! Lusket, you fiend, why ya gotta lay out loot like dat for my rats to look at!"
"Bloodrack wretch, yer boys were rightfully slain fer damaging me own! I should gut you here an' now!"
"Enough!" Hazul angrily called out. The tent grew silent, and Hazul could tell they were all upset. Vermin didn't like waiting for very long, and the camp had been having issues with supplies for weeks, with their supplies suddenly stopping only to start up again. He wondered if Markem was having difficulties in keeping the supply lines under control, but it didn't matter much to him anymore. He relayed his original plan, talking down to the group like children. "We continue to surround the abbey and prevent them from leaving, until Markem returns. Our assaults are prodding for more weaknesses, but so long as the omens are bad, we don't proceed."
Resker was the last to arrive, standing at the far end and giving an annoyed look to him. Lusket spoke first, angrily pounding the table "Oh to hell wit dat! We still got der numbers an' Kylan's boys! Even if we lose half der horde, Redwall be der only threat fer miles around! Besides, Markem's will get all of Mossflower, and we can take what we get from Redwall itself!"
Lusket's call was met with approving voices from the Bloodracks and Jakker. Only Resker seemed to be silent. Kylan mockingly spoke up "I don' know Lusket, did ya ask der bleeding ghost of some long dead mouse if ya can have his abbey or not? Ya need written permission fer dat, I am afraid. Next, yer gonna need a bunch of big ol' signs from der trees an' heavens dat der seasons want ya to loot der abbey."
Hazul lost his temper, suddenly taking out his dagger and pounding it angrily into the table. It silenced the group immediately as Hazul gave a dark look to Kylan. "The next beast who speaks of assaulting that bloody abbey is gonna have their skull on a pike above my tent! I don't know what manner of curse afflicts you Kylan. You may have convinced these fools into throwing their lives away, but I am not sacrificing this army because of your greed and stupidity!"
"Oh ya gotta lot to say on dat." Kylan shot back, smiling gleefully at getting the water rat mad. "Der only curse on me is dat I was cursed to be good looken, ya mad an' stupid thing. While we wait fer nutten, dem woodlanders plot to dislodge us an' humiliate us! Yer inaction an' superstitions are keepen us from victory! If we'd had assaulted all at once, we'd be already inside dat abbey, present dat abbot head to Markem by now!"
Resker spoke up suddenly "Hazul, I say we assault the abbey."
"Oh for seasons sake." Hazul said frustrated, but Resker continued "If we don't have some manner of victory, this army is going to get more jumpy. Markem may have put you in charge, but I respect you as much as I respect some damned rabbit kit. Now you are either going to allow us to loot that abbey, or we are going to find Markem and leave you here to deal with the Long Patrol yourself."
Backed into a corner, Hazul grumbled and snapped "Only if the omens are good would I ever allow such a thing, you giant pup. All of you, children in adult's skins! If Markem-"
"If Markem returns and finds half his horde missing, that isn't our fault. It's yours." Resker reminded him, and then smirked "Unless you want to give that command over to someone more competent."
Hazul wondered when this foolery would come up, even in a horde dedicated to brotherhood and designed in such a way to impress these warlords, the creeping poison of ambition was one their minds. Hazul wondered if Kylan was speaking of assaulting the abbey behind his back, and that despite considerable losses, the warlords still insisted on taking it. Perhaps if he stepped down, Resker would be more reasonable. No. I am not giving into this blasted horror! Damn him! I am not giving up my position and betray my most holy cause.
Hazul snapped at his shaman who came forward, this time with something more prepared. Dala produced a sack with her fake dice, two small bird bones, pebbles, and withered fall leaf. The shaman explained the sack and it's contents to the other warlords, although they all knew what it meant. The dice were there to represent the language of the seasons, the bones represented flesh and the mortal realm, the pebbles represented the earth, and leaf meant to champion the cause of the physical changes of seasons themselves. If none of the of the packaged items touched each other while dropped, it was a universally bad sign. If the dice rolled high, the seasons were more in unison. Dala and Hazul knew the ins and outs of these signs, but before Dala could continue, Resker snapped his fingers.
"No, not just you. Morpa! Get in here!"
A bumbling and older ferret appeared at Resker's side, apologizing profusely as she smiled and edged her way to the front, covered head to toe in a strange, ragged garb. She had a long and bulbous snout, and her paws were wrinkled and almost furless with age. "My shaman, from my fort. Healer as well for the most part." Resker introduced her as she waved her paw clumsily "Oh, hello."
Hazul gave Resker a strange look as he explained "We will let the seasons decide how we shall assault the abbey as the best way to get inside. I ask if we could build a catapult."
The two shamans came forward and dropped the contents of their sack of magical charms upon the ground, and looked it over. Dala's showed good omens, but Morpa's showed horrific ones.
Hazul spoke next as the two shamans collected their charm "Do the seasons favor waiting to starve them out?"
The two shamans did as they did before, but much to Hazul's shock and horror, both shamans produced the worst possible omens. Lusket looked amused, and Resker nearly chuckled. Hazul spoke again. "Digging under the fortifications?"
The results were never the same, but the omens were not good universally, as each warlord asked the shamans and the seasons what was the best possible course. Only Kylan didn't involve himself, rolling his eyes at the whole ordeal.
"What about a siege tower?"
"Poison?"
"Demoralizing dem, through executing captives?"
"Kidnapping?"
"Battling ram-" Hazul shouted, but this time both omens were good, but not fully. Hazul spoke again "Battering ram at the back gate?" Bad omens "Front gate?"
The last omen was the best thus far, as Dala and Morpa looked exhausted. Hazul looked up and nodded as Resker looked almost relieved. They would have their prize, and Hazul seemed satisfied. "Get our slaves to knock down a tree. We will assault the abbey tomorrow and take it. We'll batter down the gates." There was a cheerful 'yes' and shouts amongst the warlords, as Kylan got up almost disappointed. Left alone to his own device, Hazul prepared for a long day ahead of him. He looked down at his tome of spells and wondered, why out of all the plans this would be the one to get him into the abbey. He would have to consult his shaman a different day, for much planning had to be made.
_
A red hue reached out in the far morning around Redwall itself, as light slowly broke the darkness below. Torches were snuffed out as the hare sentries were just beginning to swap places, and Bollo and Siegfried exited their quarters surrounded by moles to take up positions below the field to listen for any new attempts to break in. Bollo was smiling when he told Naus what he and the other did, the hare laughed and cried so loudly, that the poor creature had to be forced to stop by his nurse. Marople climbed the walls, seeing to her far end on the walls was Garfan and Kana looking in desperation for their lost young. Marople felt sad to look at them, but yet such things were far beyond her control. She and her hares prepared for yet another meaningless day of siege.
Then it hit her, like a second wave hidden behind another at the beach's shore. It was by surprise as Marople saw lines forming up behind the main vermin line. The vermin host moved forward, encompassing the entire front as they picked up a large log and hoisted shields over its carriers. Two sides encompassed the corner's of the abbey's front gate, likely a distraction to flank the defenders.
"To arms! To your stations, I want all archers up front!" Marople ordered. Together, the force surged forward in a mad dash as hares quickly lined the walls alongside the abbey's militia, firing a few volleys. Unaware of the real danger which was coming along their side.
Kajam had spent the previous night in a trance, he and his warriors had their younger warriors cover them head to toe in runes and sigils, spells to protect them and guard their souls. Kajam's sword was coated by Dala in magic, which he was told when ignited would burn with soul rending flames! It was the same sorcery that Hazul used to some degree to ignire his sword in colors, and he felt honored to carry his brother and chief's magic to battle. Kajam hid with his warriors in a farther off camp and approached the main wall from behind, igniting the flame which enraptured the vermin beside him.
None of this was known to Marople, as her focus was on the battering ram currently trying to break down the gates. The entire vermin host was pulling its weight into this one attack and she could tell. Three full battle lines had been presented to her, as she continued to order volleys on the main vermin trying to breach the walls. Ropes were once again used, but this time Hazul had mixed up his tactics and from the lines of shielded infantry, a gaggle of archers of his own tribe appeared and fired their own volley at close range. The rats got off two or three arrows before trying to flee between shields, a risky maneuver which cost a few their lives but also forced the Long Patrol to find cover or fall to the ground dead.
Hazul watched the battle from a distance, watching as the main army of hares converged to beat back the main force, and surprisingly his plan was starting the work. Too many hares had converged on the front, and the main vermin host began to send its large divisions to increase the size of it's flank. The entire front of the abbey was now enveloped, and the battering ram began to crack at the gates of the abbey.
Crack!
The door began to splinter as the hares formed rank below the walls, ready to try to choke up the main gate should it fall with their bodies. The fighting grew fierce as Garfan found himself throwing rocks down at vermin below, cracking one soldier's head who was unlucky to even touch the climbing rope. This was the worst time for an attack to take place, as not moments before, Bollo and Kalma were summoned by Lufan and Siegfried to the Great Hall to discuss the things happening down south. Once it again it seemed, they would have to wait.
Kalma had her pan with her, but Lufan and Siegfried were more prepared.
The group climbed the walls to join the defense as Bollo joined Garfan and others on the wall. Lufan could now see the huge vermin host was madly dashing at the walls. Marople called out more orders "Get the fire arrows! I want those bleeding shields of that ram crew set on fire!" The hares did as bidded and quickly sought oil to put upon their arrows and fired downward at the shielded ram. There was panic amongst some of the fire as the flaming arrows pierced their mostly wooden shields, slowly setting some ablaze and being forced to abandon. In doing so, it also left them vulnerable; the crew operating the ram was doubly vulnerable.
In that weakness, the hares struck.
The hares fired down to be rid of the main problem as their arrow pierced into the sides of one of the crews. Hazul had figured this was a major fault in not having spent more time building a covered ram, so the water rat chief motioned for his captains to quickly have them replaced. The fighting was growing fiercer, but Hazul made a sudden change which confused Marople. The vermin on the sides were ordered to pull back to the far back of the battlefield, behind the trenches.
Marople thought of it as a mistake on the vermin's part, perhaps thinking that the vermin wanted to intimidate them with their sheer numbers that could be seen. With the flanking walls no longer exposed to fighting, Marople focused her attention on the front gate and spoke to Bollo who was carrying up stones for the defenders.
"Bollo! Grab your moles, I need that gate reinforced now!"
Bollo nodded and rushed down and collected his moles, quickly bringing in whatever they could to bar the door. The ram was operational again, and it continued to smack at the door with a loud bang.
Crack!
Hazul kept his eyes in front, but his mind and face shifted to the far left of the abbey where two hidden divisions were waiting for his orders, the army's most elite infantry. This included Jusbrag's heaviest infantry, Resker's fast moving skirmishers, and others. Only his tribe was not present, for they had a more hidden purpose, one which was now making itself known. The cautious hares acting as sentries around the rest of the abbey did not see Kajam and his archers getting into position, before unleashing a sudden and hidden volley which cleared the north gate wall. Kajam and his blue flaming sword appeared once this dark deed was done, unfurling ropes and quickly beginning their long ascent up into the abbey itself.
Kajam was the first to be on the wall, noticing one of the hare scouts scurrying away with bloodied paws, warning his companions as best he could. Kajam scoffed, his main eye turning to the north gate which wasn't as defended. He smiled grimly, and quickly began to make his way downward. A hare tried to stand in his path, but the duel was short as the blue flaming sword knocked the hare's own aside and he was immediately slain by the large water rat.
There was another push on the main wall, as Hazul waved his paw at one of his captains who ordered another large push to attach climbing ropes and to bring up ladders. Like they had done at Tussock, vermin grabbed onto the far end of the ladders as others pushed them upward for a quick breach onto the walls. Garfan was taken by surprise as he found himself fighting a fox which had appeared upon the walls. Hazul smiled gleefully to himself.
"I will have your abbey Martin. I will make it holy they way it is meant to." He said to himself, deluded by the visions of such grandeur. He could see his brother and his vermin were now over the walls, and the hares panicked as they sent back a force to deal with him.
"It is too late." Hazul said to himself "I have won this game."
Crack!
_
Bollo and his moles brought up another large piece of wood and placed it in front of the door, but were disheartened when they heard a cracking sound on the other side of the door. The gate's hinges were coming undone by the pressure and their piece of wood fell out of place as a result. Bollo rallied his moles, getting it back into place, only to notice Garfan hurrying down the steps with a bloodied set of armor and spear in paw.
Bollo's head followed the mouse warrior till he noticed rats were swarming all over on the other side of the wall, with Long Patrol battling everywhere across the field and less defended part of the walls, some trying to make it down and towards the door. More were appearing as Garfan rushed forward and embedded his spear into one rat by surprise. Bollo rushed towards him, grabbing his trusty nailing hammer and calling back to his moles "Keep dut gute closed!" Bollo was not alone as he rushed to help, as Lufan and Siegfried were on the upper walls and were rushing with a group of hares to fight the vermin trying to claim the entire wall, which they had nearly succeeded in doing.
"To the north gate! The north gate!" Garfan cried out to anyone who would listen, coming to reinforce the guards as they looked on, intimidated at the monstrous water rat approaching them. Garfan froze when he saw Kajam and his blue flaming sword, garbed in barbarian ware and his fur covered head to toe in sigils and runes. His eyes were full of zeal as Bollo and Garfan were soon faced with a force of foes coming down from the walls to reinforce the tribal captain.
The rat did not charge, he approached cautiously and with purpose, allowing his soldiers to charge forward. One of the rats thought Bollo to be the easier target and rushed at him, only to be surprised when Bollo fumbled backward and raised his hammer and smashed the rat with his smaller hammer, before being pushed away swiftly as the rat was felled. Garfan was jumped by another two, as the mouse struggled against the tribal rats who used their sabers to try to dislodge him, only for Bollo and one of the hare guards to rush to one rat and swiftly kill him and Garfan dueling the other and slaying him as well. One of the hares charged into Kajam, but met his end as the large rat casually parried him and picked up the hare, throwing him harshly at the door with a loud crunch, before dropping dead upon the ground.
The other hare, with Bollo and Garfan at his side, stood in the way of Kajam who mockingly spoke as the battle raged around him.
"Our spirit is far stronger than yers, perish knowing that Markem will have his prize."
Bollo scoffed back "Talk luss, rutbrained!"
The huge water rat swung his blue flaming sword at the ground who dodged backward, but the hare amongst the two was not prepared for Kajam to rush forward and imbed his sword into him. Garfan tried to avenge the Long Patrol warrior only for the vermin to wheel around and harshly slam himself on top of Garfan, knocking him to the ground. Bollo came forward and smacked Kajam's foot with his hammer in a harsh manner, but was shocked when it clanged upon something metal. Beneath the furry garb was armor, but Kajam winced and wheeled around and pushed Bollo down.
Kajam tried to slam his sword on top of Bollo, who recovered only barely in time to role to the side. Garfan coughed and got up, but found Kajam was not really interested in him as he made a dash towards the gate. Garfan took his spear and threw it at Kajam who noticed in time and chopped it in mid flight. Taking up one of the hare's swords, Garfan tried to duel the rat who looked more annoyed than threatened by the mouse warrior. Bollo got up, joining the mouse as the two fought him together. For a monster who could so easily kill Long Patrol, Kajam unleashed what fury he had on the two woodlanders in frustration as Bollo and Garfan together kept up pace.
Yet it wasn't enough.
Kajam slashed in strong motion at Garfan, which caught his blade and it flew from his paw, including a few finger paws as well. Garfan cried out in pain, as Bollo tried to use his smaller hammer to knock at Kajam's legs. One of Bollo's hits finally caught the rat, but not in his leg, but the ankle which tore off and twisted. Kajam leaped back and limped, as an exhausted Bollo approached, holding up his small hammer.
"Oh give it up." Kajam warned and growled "You'll all be dead or slavebeasts soon. Why fight your fates?"
Kajam was about to turn and rush back towards the door, but his limp caught him. He suddenly felt a pain in his shoulder and loud cracking sound. He staggered back and looked up, seeing Siegfried having fired a shot from his crossbolt into him. Lufan and Siegfried had rallied the hares and had retaken the walls, but both were bloodied in doing so. The hares were back in charge, but to Kajam this didn't matter. He could already hear them shouting of vermin approaching the side gate he would soon open.
Bollo again came forward, and smacked at Kajam again, this time hitting him in his side. The hammer in fact got stuck in the wound and Bollo was sent flying when the water rat hit him with his shoulder, sending him flying backward. He again tried to rush towards the door, but found Garfan standing in his way, holding his spear with his bloodied paw. Kajam could now hear and see hares behind him as he rushed forward to the gate, as Garfan held up his spear and lowered himself.
Kajam didn't intend to fight this foe for long, he just needed to open that door.
Yet, Garfan instead rushed forward once Kajam got close, and the rat mistepped due to his wound. Garfan slammed his spear into the rat's chest, impaling him as he pushed the rat further and further from the door, screaming all the way. Kajam amazed Garfan in more ways than one, as he brought his shoulder down on the spear, breaking it as if it were a swig and harshly slapped the mouse across the face with his claws, scaring him.
Bollo again had arisen, and had an idea. He came to the front of the door as Kajam fought Garfan, blocking his way next. Kajam held his blue flaming sword and tried to approach in a weak fashion. Bollo then widened his eyes, as Kajam was about to fight Bollo for one final push to open that door, only for his head to cave to the side with a big pan rushing across the back side of his face. Kajam turned, dizzy, to find Kalma looking surprised as she bashed the rat again and he fell. She was not done, climbing on top of the rat and bashing down on his head till she was absolutely sure the beast was slain.
"Good job Kalma!" Lufan said from above, having rushed down with some of the hares. The hares had finally been able to converge on the group as Bollo and Garfan huffed in pain. Kalma hurried to Bollo, but the mole shook her off "I'm fiune, Garfun ain't." The two rushed to Garfan who was looking at his paw fingers which were cut off by Kajam. He cried a bit, but then began to laugh.
"Ha! Haahaha!" His wound was quickly bandaged and pressure applied, a medic and nurse of the abbey came over to tend to Garfan. Siegfried and Lufan joined them as Garfan smiled as if drunk.
"Now that is a bleeding fight! Hahaha!" Garfan sounded half mad, amazed he had even survived. Bollo smiled and coughed as the hares inspected Kajam's body. The hares above them were firing down on Hazul's elite core, who struggled to recover from this disaster. The battle was still going, but this small victory gave the group a great deal of hope.
Up until they heard a loud set of trumpets in the distance.
_
The far end of the camp near the ruins of Saint Ninian's church was the first to be hit by a mysterious wave of death which descended upon the camp, the loud roar of trumpets and drums were sounded with a loud call to action. Marching straight past the poorly manned defenses of the outer camp, a large host of pike and halberd wielding otters, hares, and hedgehogs made their way into the vermin camp and began to slaughter all the vermin they could find. Vermin exited their tents to find otters standing there, to be slain quickly and their good destroyed. The slave pens of the camp were raided and taken, as a lackluster division of vermin came to engage the army.
Though this did not help.
Hazul turned in horror to find huge yellow banners waving in the distance, getting closer as the host of the main woodlander army came upon them with a full force. The main vermin army was called back to defend the camp, only to find huge woodlander divisions waiting for them, and their skirmishers quickly finding good positions to fire down upon the vermin. Hazul could barely find cover, but was able to hide behind a shielded vermin who was injured trying to protect him.
The main vermin host got into position slowly, as a host of warriors quickly began to dismantle the camp piece by piece. They began with the far end of the camp, and moved inward, trying to surround the main vermin host crunched up against Redwall's walls. Hazul rushed to his tribe, pulling them into a formation where they unleashed a volley on the beasts invading the main camp, but their armor was too thick for it to be much of an issue.
Kylan pulled his forces forces back into the camp itself, making a rush to save his things and to gather what was important, while Hazul did the same. The vermin forces abandoned their siege and rushed back into the camp to try to reclaim it, only to be met with pikes and crossbows. When this strange force found out that the vermin were surging into the camp, they were quick to retreat and unleash volley after volley into the camp. The screams of the vermin was almost a chorus, as a wave of golden armored hares crashed into the orange hued vermin who fearfully began to run away. Hazul and his tribe were able to reclaim their smashed up command tent, taking maps before another wave of infantry rushed into the camp.
Hazul was distraught and mortified, but with his blue flaming sword he rallied the vermin well, who stood their ground.
"Keep them from the camp! Hordebeasts of the Great Vermin Band, stand your ground!" The line held, but the concerning rout of Jusbrag forces soon turned to a large host of beasts starting to envelope the main army. Hazul could see Kylan and his captains rushing to another side of the camp, although not trying to run away but catch one of their frightened soldiers. Hazul rushed to Kylan's side, as he was shaking his captain out of his fright "Ya lively coward! Get back in der or I am throwing ya in!"
"Kylan!"
Kylan turned to see Hazul rushing to him, although not upset as he suspected him to be. Hazul pointed to the golden armored hares threatening the flank of the main army, making his orders.
"Our elite core! They are still at Redwall's walls! Grab your beasts and any fool you can get a spear in their paw and have them fend that off! I will grab our veterans, we need to break for Markem's camp!" Hazul was yelling over the battle, and Kylan slowly nodded. Taking up his saber and practically dragging along one of his captains he growled out orders "Spearbeasts wit me! Lets show de's softies what real Jusbrag steel be looken like, eh!" With that, the armored beasts of Jusbrag rallied to their warlord and made a rush to form a formation near the main flank as Hazul went around the camp with a division, hoping to find his brother.
Kylan and his spear beasts raised their spears to this new foe who advanced slowly at them, but soon revealed their main play as a volley of crossbows were hurled from behind, trying to bait them into attacking, and attack they did. The golden hares fought valiantly, aided by a creature covered in gilded gold whose sword shone like the very sun from gleam upon it. The beast cut down Jusbrag vermin left and right, cutting into the main force, but this was what Kylan had hoped for, allowing him to gather another host to get them into position, pulling the survivors back. Instead of being faced with just spears, Kylan's new line had shields, and javelin throwers in the front who were now baiting the enemy to advance.
Hazul reached around with his division, finding them being attacked by a straggler division from this new army, while also trying to assault the abbey itself. Hazul commanded the group personally, pulling them back while he lined up his archers to fire on the advancing soldiers, all the while Long Patrol rained down hell on the troops. The elite core of the army got the hint and quickly abandoned the siege, retreating to the main army still being pushed up against the abbey itself.
Hazul stayed longer than he should, commanding his archers expertly, hoping to see his brother be perhaps the last to climb down those walls. Yet, as more and more advanced, it dawned on Hazul where his brother likely was. He cursed himself and drew his forces back into the main fold, and retreated further into the forests.
Hazul was surprised to see Kylan and Resker huffing as they looked at him exhausted and bloodied, their defense had not gone well, and it had been costly. However, the two were now ordering about a formal retreat, keeping the army together as it fled back north.
"Took yer sweet time, ya rat!" Kylan growled. Hazul was despondent and looked to Resker and asked "My brother. He is not with you is he?" Resker shook his head, as Hazul gave up his last hope. He gave one last look to Redwall and sighed, seeing that the abbey has bested vermin kind once again it seems. The curse he had hoped to break, was too strong for mortal paws.
"We go north, to warn Markem. Resker, order your freshest soldiers, make sure we get our stragglers."
Resker raised and eyebrow to this only when Hazul mentioned "We don't want Markem thinking too poorly of us for losing such a large chunk of his army. Now move, those woodlanders won't be docile in their victory for long." The screams of battle became further as the rest of this mysterious army appeared on the horizon, disheartening any vermin hiding or still remained. They had not faced off against even the full force brought against them as the battered force retreated northward.
The long patrol yelled in victory, the strange yellow banners waving high and proud as it approached. The woodlanders were heading towards the door as the vermin camp was trampled beneath the weight of this new force, rescuing Redwall from its demise.
"Bleeding hell! Look! That's the Bellmaker's sigil, Southward is here lads!" One of the jubilant Long Patrol soldiers yelled at the top of his lungs. The soldiers at the gate waited as their victors sought entrance, not hearing a loud and horrified yelp from Garfan. "No! Wait! Don't open that d-"
Three Long Patrol stood at the entrance with the gate now opening for their rescuers, the smiling Long Patrol looked at the grim and confused faces of Captain Gaslow and some of his soldiers, bloodied from battle.
"Oh seasons." Lufan gasped. He did not think that Southward would make such amazing time to be here already, and yet here they were. He had no time to explain as Siegfried immediately began to load a bolt into his crossbow. Bollo, Garfan, and Kalma looked at Lufan as he listened to the sounds of battle around him, more mortified than he had been before. For a beast who had seen and caused death to vermin, the cheering Long Patrol frightened him suddenly and made the group confused. Kalma listened closely and seemed almost excited.
"The badger lord, his armies must have just come!"
"Dut ain't Galgur's hurn." Bollo corrected her. Lufan came up to them, and quickly stammered out.
"You need to get to the walls, you need to tell them to keep them closed! This siege isn't done." Lufan's voice was full of worry as Garfan and Bollo gave him a confused look. Lufan explained as best he could.
"Those are Southward drums outside these walls, they came up here saying they were to aid against the vermin, but they are massacering them and us as well! They hanged the Long Patrol who tried to stop them. There is a mole outside, Borbon Rocklore, he is with them now, and leads that dark host. They massacred children an' mothers all, and will likely kill every beast here as well!" Bollo and Garfan's eyes widened.
"Why the bleeding hell didn't you tell us before then!" Garfan scolded. Siegfried answered "We thought dur wure furder uff. We didun't wunt to muke ya all despure, dut is whut we wure gunna tell yuo dus murning. Varuments were dur current trouble-"
Garfan held his tongue, angry at them for keeping such a secret so late just as they approached, but yet it reminded him a bit too much of Dakan's logic. He began to rush to the gates, just as the group tried to follow. Garfan was faster, still holding his injured paw and screaming at the top of his lungs to keep the gate closed, but he found three hares having opened the gate to meet their saviors.
Gaslow blinked, and stood by with an otter soldier who had been by his side in the fighting. More Southwards were surrounding him as the younger Long Patrol greeted him of the three.
"Bleeding good timing, wot! Blighters nearly had us!" There was no response as the soldier gave a concerned glance to his captain who gave a darker look back at him. The younger hare was confused, wondering if there was some language barrier. One of the older hares turned to see Garfan and others running towards him, as Gaslow grunted and took the spike from the otter's paw.
"Bleeding hell, if you won't do it, I will!"
The younger hare's eyes turned to horror when in the pike pierced through him and he fell to the ground dead. The other two hares took up weapons and tried to close the gate, but Gaslow and few others quickly rushed into the abbey's ground and began to duel and smack away the hares nearest to the gate. Bollo's barricade didn't last long as Southward hares and otters began to push in. Marople's jaw dropped in horror, commanding her equally baffled hares who were once in jubilant spirit to rush to the gate.
"To the gates! The enemy is at our gates!" Marople jumped down as the archers fired randomly in the crowd of yellow armored beasts who were now clearly hostile. Bolts rang out across the walls, pelting those on top as the mortified abbeybeasts ran for cover. The Long Patrol were being pushed further and further from the gates, till the ground was no longer accessible. Southward soldiers began to climb the walls to battle the hares who were trying to hold it, and to get a vantage point for crossbows. The few hares who could quickly retreated into the abbey, where they closed the doors behind them.
Gaslow allowed more and more soldiers to enter as eventually he was joined by more of his fellow captains. The Redwallers threw down weapons when yelled at by their fellow woodlanders, and grappled by the soldiers. Bollo and Kalma tried to come to Garfan's aid, only to be caught by several hares and otters. Garfan kicked and screamed as he was dragged away, and Bollo and Kalma were silently pushed into a corner with out prisoners. The Long Patrol still held half the abbey, and quickly formed new positions, dueling their counterparts with special anger to them. When the surprise wore off, the Long Patrol began to push the Southward soldiers back, claiming their lives as more and more spilled into the camp.
The soldiers took what was left of the vermin battering ram and hauled it inside, and began to bang on the door. The windows of the abbey were used to shoot down what little ammunition the Long Patrol had left upon their foe, and it was rather fruitless. There was nothing but horror and confusion in the halls of Redwall as Stenna locked herself and the dibbums in one room and growled at any beast who approached.
Crack! There only needed one breach to end Redwall for good as the Southwarders rushed inside the Great Hall where Long Patrol took a defensive position, cutting down any who approached them. The first wave they dispatched with ease, but the next? One by one they began to fall.
At the front of the gates, General Nosbub stepped through with a grim smile upon his face. He looked around as the Southwarders took up their positions and secured the main abbey. He seemed rather jovial as he looked the abbey up and down. Such a stupid looking thing, of course only these vermin savages would desire this place so. He twitched and looked about him, before issuing his orders to one of his subordinates.
"Clean the abbey of these Long Patrol traitors."
The subordinate nodded and went inside. Gaslow came up to him, a little annoyed as Nosbub barely even looked at him, annoyed that he even approached at all. Gaslow grunted and yelled over the battle, trying to keep Nosbub's attention as he was drowning in his victory.
"The Long Patrol are regrouping at the north wall, Kelsum or Gosland need to be at that end of the wall, General!"
Nosbub snorted "And why would I bleeding do that, the glory of these beasts death is mine alone." Nosbub feigned his zeal poorly to Gaslow, as the hedgehog growled "Because they are opening the other gate, General. They are going to escape." Nosbub frowned and changed his mood. He grunted and ordered the hedgehog "Then so be it. Get Esmert to do it. Tell him I want none alive."
Gaslow huffed, but obeyed as he went back to find a courier to send to the captain, no doubt distant from the battlefield himself. Nosbub put his paws behind his back and hunched forward, approaching the abbey with dark intent as the main hall was at least secure.
The bell tolled loudly as he entered, neither in warning nor celebration. Panic had come to reign over the abbey itself.
_
Marople tried her best as her hares routed and scattered across the abbey, and there was only one beast she knew who could advise her. She rushed, hearing the screams of the abbey beasts behind her, and her hares dying to distract this new foe just long enough. She rushed into the infirmary, the hares along with the nurses oblivious to what was happening. Naus was standing upright on his bed, eating his soup which now sat in his lap. He squinted as Marople came and quickly saluted, with tears in her eyes.
"The vermin broke through?" Naus was quick to ask. Marople stammered in speech, "Sir, I-I need to pick you up, we need to leave now."
"Bolly heck, if the vermin broke through, little effort in that." Naus tried to remain cheerful, but the sounds of battle came closer. Two hares drew weapons and rushed between the door, as shouted echoed both outside and inside. Marople tried to explain. "N-no. Sir, its woodlanders. Southward banners, they are killing us. Th-" Naus looked at her in disbelief and thought of it. He sighed as he was soon distracted by dying sounds not far off from the infirmary doors. Marople was in despair "Sir, they-I need to get you up. You need-"
"I am afraid not, legs still broke I am afraid." Naus said calmly, his eyes upon the door. Another hare rushed between the room's door, but steel was be rung just around a corner. Something was coming. One of the hares who had lost a leg was standing in crutches, as other injured hares looked to the doors with worry. Naus looked to a despairing Marople and suddenly pulled her close to him.
"Marople De Fformelo Tussock, you are a Lieutenant of the Long Patrol, so listen closely. We are dead here, mam. You are to treat it as such. You are now in command fully, and you must go and save whom you can, go north and find Pelma and her otters. Help them, and get back to bleeding Salamandastron if you can. My hares followed me here, we defended these walls, and we failed. You musn't."
"Sir-"
Finally from the door an otter in bloodied yellow garb appeared, angry and frustrated and carrying a short spear. Naus and Marople looked to him as he approached the limping hare, the first beast he saw, and he approached with malcontent. The hare tried to limp away, begging for health and mercy, but for his efforts was impaled in his chest. More yellow cladded beasts followed with swords drawn and the horrified nurses and healers of Redwall rushed to try to beg for the lives of their wards. The soldiers were not listening, the head nurse Palia was thrown to the ground by a hedgehog as she begged and screamed as the soldiers went from bed to bed, killing the Long Patrol who laid in them, unable to defend themselves.
Some of the Long Patrol took up weapons who were healthier, slaying a few of the Southward beasts, but soon they were being overwhelmed as well. Naus turned to a horrified Marople, partly hiding behind his bed and looking to the back entrance of the infirmary. He spoke his last order to her, sadly and sympathetically.
"Go now, save my hares."
Marople closed her eyes and nodded and rushed out the back door which led further into the abbey, but she knew he way around in order to get to the back door through the infirmary. Naus turned his attention back to the murderous scene, a nightmarish play of blood and death as screaming and injured hares raised paws only to twitch as spears and swords fell upon them. Naus grunted and reached for the rapier at his side when one otter approached. Naus grabbed him, surprising the armored beast as he rammed his rapier through the otter's neck, and fell over dead upon the ground.
He cried out in a rallying cry, angry and fearsome as he raised his rapier high above him.
"Murderous curs, I'll show you what a Stag Hare can bleeding do! Blood and Vinigar!" Several beasts approached and quickly met the same fate. Naus slashed despite them trying to push down their weapons upon him. One beast was distracted as Naus grabbed behind him and threw his pillow at one as the rest of the soldiers mopped up the rest of the surviving hares. The numbers increased around his bed, no longer slaying beasts as he was just trying to deflect their blows. Six beasts were trying their hardest to kill Naus, getting slashed and injured as the hare expertly wheeled about in his bed, but slowly but surely the swords and spears were hitting into him.
"Come on you dishonorable curs! I'm taking you all to the Dark Forest with me!" He yelled and screamed, slicing at others who approached. He finally felt the first fatal blow land on his chest as one lucky hare, his face brutally scarred by Naus finally was able to land his blow. Naus however did not die, pulling the once lucky hare into him and slicing into his head. The other beasts came to him and broke his arm carrying his weapon, but even this did not stop him as he pulled a dagger from one of the soldiers, using it instead. The soldiers were in a horrified state themselves, pushing their weapons down on the slower Naus as his sheets began to pool in blood.
Naus's head finally laid down once the soldiers were done, thus ending the life of Naus Stag Hare II, in his last moments having killed seven beasts who laid in a pile around him. With his death came a grim silence and wailing as the nurses were rushed out of the room by the others, leaving a bloodied mess.
_
Lufan and Siegfried held back, helping the Long Patrol as best they could as those who survived began to pool around the back of the abbey. The soldiers were dismantling a barricade of the main door, and were waiting around for any of their officers to appear. One particularly unlucky officer from Marople's group had appeared only to be struck down by a bolt of a crossbow. Disorganized, the hares were losing focus and even the infamously difficult to rout Long Patrol were losing their ground.
Marople did appear with a few others from the abbey, who rushed out of a back door which was quickly closed behind. However the door was busted open by an otter soldier who came out to kill her only to be struck down by a crossbow bolt fired from Siegfried. Marople was silent, trying to hold back tears as Lufan marched up to her.
"Are you in charge?" He asked loudly. Marople paused for a moment, but was shaken by Lufan. "Are you in charge!?"
"Yes." She finally answered. Lufan yelled up "Mam, you need to get out of here, before they surround you! They'll kill you! They won't take prisoners!"
Marople again nearly paused, but now she was shaking herself as she yelled at her troops. "To the north wall, we make for the river Moss! Form up with me!" The Long Patrol did as bidded as they began to abandon the walls, and in that opportunity they opened the doors only to find several Southward soldiers taking up positions in the forest, claiming the camp fortifications of the vermin as their own. This didn't really deter Marople, noticing their lacking number, which she felt was strange. The Southward forces began to rush forward as Lufan took up a fallen hare's spear and yelled at her "Go! We will cover your esc-" Lufan was about to continue when they heard screaming to their side and Lufan froze.
Eskert was staring back at him, blood upon his blade, and beside him was Borbon who was approaching will malcontent. The two were flanked by soldiers as Lufan held his ground and stared at his old friend. Marople took the hint as she rallied the survivors and began to flee out the door.
Eskert and Borbon looked on in anger at the two, as Siegfried clumsily loaded his crossbow. In silence the two approached as the Southward soldiers behind them tried to stop the Long Patrol from evacuating. Siegfried fired a bolt at Borbon, and amazingly missed as it zoomed far past his shoulder and scratched his armor. Even Borbon seemed shocked and took up a fallen shield and advanced as Siegfried tried to load another shot. Lufan and Eskert approached one another.
Eskert didn't know why Lufan would do such a thing, he knew Lufan wasn't exactly the best fighter by any milestone, but it became much clearer as Lufan took his spear and threw it at a soldier trying to kill a downed Long Patrol, who was able to get up and get away. Eskert rushed forward and tried to swipe at Lufan who growled at him as he held himself back.
"I was silent then, Eskert, but not now. I am not going to allow you to do worse to these people!"
Eskert growled out his own curse, rebuking his former friend "You knew we would be attacked that night, and thought not to even warn us! Your sympathy to evil is no longer tolerated, Lufan!" Eskert slashed at Lufan who rushed to the side to dodge. Siegfried loaded his bolt and fired again at Borbon, but foolishly hit his shield.
Lufan tried to get up, but Eskert was on top of him and put his sword to his throat. Lufan looked up, in anger at first at his friend as much as fear. Eskert stood over him, emotionless and grunting and was likely about to put him to an end till Gaslow marched up and yelled "Eskert! Wait! Frankfort's orders!" Eskert seemed annoyed and rolled his eyes at the annoyance. The Prince had ordered that none of the Redwallers and non-members of the Long Patrol were to be harmed, at least not yet. Lufan looked up at Eskert, no longer even being able to recognize the mouse.
Siegfried tried desperately to load his crossbow, as Borbon approached, threw down the shield, and this time began to walk to him. Siegfried backed away and loaded it in time, but as he brought up his shaking paws to Borbon, he was standing in front of him. Siegfried stammered, dropping the crossbow as Borbon took a hold of it and threw it to the side. Siegfried was shocked and dismaying as Borbon gave him a disappointed look, and only asked one thing.
"Why."
Siegfried gulped, but bravely stood his ground. He spoke with authority. "Whut yuo did, Burbon. Yuo will huve to expluin to yer young'un. Cause I wunt. I juined a friund hunten duwn Gandul. I luft a murder-" Siegfried wasn't allowed to speak more as Borbon angrily pushed Siegfried down to the ground and held his paw on his chest plate. Borbon's face was twisted with anger and rage as Gaslow walked to the top of the building to overlook the retreating Long Patrol. Much to his annoyance, but yet not to his surprise. Esmert cowardly slunk back the moment his division gained casualties as the Long Patrol escaped through the vermin camp before more could arrive.
Gaslow declared to his bloodied beasts below, raising his pike high in the air.
"We have won! We have saved Redwall! For Southward!"
Lufan and Siegfried were picked up by others and taken away, as the rest of the abbey was secured. The silence of betrayal was replaced with jubilation of victory over two foes, with the golden hares marched into the abbey, bringing with them their golden savior.
_
Marthomis had been praying in his office when he had heard battle outside, and hurried down stairs to calm his fellow woodlanders. Yet, then something strange happened, as the battle grew much louder and screams were more closer. He went to investigate out a window, only to find some unfortunate recruit of the Long Patrol gripping the glass plane of a window, and finding another yellow clad hare approaching him. Marthomis was frozen in shock as that yellow beast kicked the recruit to his side, his bloodied paw staining the glass and his life was ended as a spear was pierced into him, all on top of the gardens.
"No." Marthomis said loudly, wondering if this was all some bad dream.
He hobbled towards the great hall, but heard fighting and stopped. From the hallways two bloodied otters came up to him, looking him over and marched up to him. Marthomis spoke in a confused and stammering voice "W-what is happening, who-"
"You are Redwaller of the abbey? Please, follow my friend here down into your cavern hole below."
"What are you doing, I-" Marthomis was grabbed by one of the soldiers as he was brough into the Great Hall and and down into Cavern Hole, where others were being pushed into. Marthomis heard screams and shouts as he collected himself and protested, especially as he saw Long Patrol lying dead all around his abbey. Blood was pooled in a nightmarish way, as the soldier passed him off to another. In Cavern Hole were mortified and despondent woodlanders of his abbey, Bollo was with his moles and Kalma with her kitchen staff.
"I-I-" Marthomis tried to march up to a soldier looking over them, the old dormouse demanding to know what was happening in his abbey "I am the Abbot of Redwall, Marthomis! I demand to know what you are doing, why are-" He refused to believe it, as tears came over his eyes. Bollo and Kalma rushed to the dismaying abbot as one of the other monks got him to sit down.
The soldier did not respond, only shamefully giving them all a pitied look. The next to arrive in Cavern Hole was the abbey's dibbums and youngsters, with all of them shaken as they saw a dead hare shoved into a corner by one of the soldiers who tried to cover it up. Next came the nurses, weeping and crying as Marthomis met them. He asked where Garfan and Stenna was, but only got two wrong answers. One of the soldiers claimed they would be with them shortly, another claiming he had not seen them. Yet, Garfan and Stenna were being pulled by ropes towards the cellars as they passed by the main room, both of them cursing their captors.
At long last, it dawned on Marthomis what was happening when he asked for Naus Stag Hare, and the soldier only responded.
"He will not be joining you."
Marthomis was mortified and broken at such a response, he didn't understand as he sat down for what felt like hours in silence as the frightened woodlanders wondered what would happen. A soldier finally came down and yelled. "Abbot of Redwall! You are summoned!" Marthomis slowly stood, but Bollo and Kalma came forward to join him. The soldier spoke up to the rest.
"Our prince demands an audience of the good beasts of Redwall. The abbot is required, but his majesty would greatly appreciate a stronger audience to greet."
Some followed up, such as Kana who angrily marched out with Kalma and Bollo as Marthomis slowly got the strength to arise from the steps. He was marched side by side by two otters who made sure he kept pace, and when he slowed they firmly held his paws and forced him forward. In the Great Hall, Marthomis looked upon the tapestry of Martin, a part of the legendary tapestry had it's bottom dipped in the blood of a Long Patrol soldier being carried away by other soldiers. Marthomis looked to the door as it swung wide open.
Frankfort had thought himself a golden child coming in on rays of light to the abbey's inner sanctum, but this is not what Marthomis saw. The squirrel, covered from head to toe in golden armor, rings shining upon his fingers, and a big golden medallion upon his neck clanked its way into the hall. Yet the shine of gold reflected by sunlight was now drenched in blood and mud. Frankfort removed his helm, handing it off to Samkon who was by his side. Nosbub walked beside him and introduced Redwall's savior to the unsure and terrified woodlanders.
"This is Prince Frankfort Squirrelking of Southward, they call him the Golden in our lands, and now I would declare a slayer of vermin, bane of the treasonous, and destroyer of evil! He who is merciful to his enemies, and merciless to the unrepentant! Savior of Redwall!"
Frankfort smiled at his titles and approached a horrified Marthomis, his face sullen in fear as much as anger. Frankfort took notice and looked down, and gave a half hearted joke to try to lighten the mood.
"Well, I am certain you have many questions. I am aware you are the abbot of Redwall?"
Marthomis was silent, but Bollo came forward and cursed him.
"Un ya gut a lut to answur fur."
Frankfort frowned and looked down at Bollo who did not show an inch of fear. Kalma neither as she raised her voice in anger. "What you have done, what is the meaning of this. Are you mad!?"
Nosbub rushed forward and growled at his soldiers "Put these two in the temporary prison for now! I will not have our cause or lord insulted in such a manner! My lord, apologies, I will have these two-"
"No need for such things, I know whom you two are. You are Bollo and Kalma, and I am certain there are many things you learn and re-learn. It shall be explained in time. This battle, I have come to free all of you from more than just the vermin, but the shackles of barbarism and deceit! You will come to see what we have done as a good thing in time, my friends. For now, let us celebrate our victory." Bollo and Kalma were taken away by Nosbub's guards who pushed them to where they had taken Garfan and Stenna. Frankfort was joined by Eskert, Borbon, and Loy as he raised his sword to his soldiers.
"Know now that Redwall again is safe, and shall never be harmed again! For Southward! And Mossflower!"
The jubilant cry of the Southward beasts was amost demeaning and nightmarish to Marthomis as he stood there. His sandals were wet, in the bitter juices of an evil done in Martin's sight.
Did I fail? Has Redwall truly fallen?
Outside the walls of Redwall, the army of Southward was marching into the abbey one division at a time, while others were outside doing more menial and grim tasks. Marthomis and the Redwallers watched from afar as the main bulk of the Southward army began to smash up Long Patrol tents to replace them with their own, and the vermin camp outside was being taken down and desicrated. Marthomis got a good look at the true fate of those who fell to Southward's terror, as behind each division was a gaggle of vermin or woodlander laborers who miserably kept their heads down and looked behind them at whip wielding taskmasters who lorded over them. Marthomis lost count of all the vermin he saw who were missing limbs and tails, and he turned away in anger and disgust to see youngsters amongst them in similar conditions.
The serfs were outside extending the vermin trench, but it no longer held a defensive purpose. Long Patrol and vermin alike were hauled out of the abbey and from the battle and haphazardly thrown into the ditches to be buried. No one dared raised objects, although the vermin and woodlanders burying the bodies were slow as the load of corpses piled up. The grim task of burial was passed off to more unfortunate beings whose slowness got them a quick lashing from tired and furious overseers. Cruel words were thrown onto their shoulders, as the grave diggers looked on hopelessly at Redwall.
The once hope and bright light of Mossflower was covered in a yellow tarp, as Southward flags were unfurled proudly upon poles and the sides. Engineers set to work immediately on repairing the gates, as others set up around the abbey or inside it.
The Southwarders had done something strange to the terrified Redwallers, going from monstrous murderers to clumsy tourists who went to work cleaning their dark deeds with abandon. Blood and bodies were disposed of, and special care was done by cleaners to Martin's tapestry. Soldiers who were on duty were wandering about, almost amazed, talking about the Bellmaker, Joseph. The Southwarders pilfered the hall, pretending as if nothing had happened as they expected a fine feast for themselves, only to be openly disappointed when it was discovered that Kalma was the head cook and was currently in a temporary prison.
Marthomis walked slowly through his abbey, no longer distressed as he was powerless and alone, thinking to himself. He stopped and closed his eyes to guards bringing out bloodied bedsheets from the infirmary. He had tried to calm everyone, but no one was hopeful or very keen on talking. Palia was mortified and inconsolable, she had locked herself in her room and refused to come out to speak, let alone eat, until guards had to burst in and drag her out by force. The dibbums were sad, and the youngsters were confused and terrified.
Yet what broke Marthomis's heart the most was to see what were effectively slaves tending to his abbey, to the holy ground of the freedom fighter Martin who he thought would no doubt weep to see what he did. A few broken rats moved past the abbot, almost in mortal fear of him, tending to the needs of one of the overseers who yelled and kicked at them.
"The halls aren't going to be red by the end of the day, scum!" Marthomis dared not speak up as the overseer growled and ran the rats to their tasks.
Slowly, Marthomis walked up towards his office door, and gave a loud sigh before entering, finding the place already occupied. Frankfort was no longer in his armor, clean of the blood of those he had slain, the squirrel's golden visage was not exactly gone. His yellow taberd and fine jewelry clung to the strong creature, who looked about with amazement at the office of Marthomis.
He turned and perked up, before giving a humble bow.
"Abbot Marthomis, I am glad you received my summons well, I was hoping we could discuss things alone. I think perhaps we had introduced ourselves poorly." Frankfort didn't really sound apologetic, having rehearsed his line before bidding the abbot to sit in front of him. Marthomis did not, much to the prince's annoyance.
The dormouse gave a loud sigh and spoke softly, but firmly. "Prince Frankfort of Southward, your entrance was-" Marthomis paused, unable to bring himself to speak ill of this creature. His thoughts turned to those he had left, especially Bollo and Kalma. "Beyond words."
"I am certain our ways are strange and beyond words, but know it was necessary." Frankfort sat down. Marthomis looked down at his own desk, seeing maps of Mossflower and papers with Frankfort's signatures on them. Frankfort this time firmly spoke, although not as pleasantly as before.
"Please abbot, sit. There is much to discuss."
Marthomis finally obeyed and sat, shaking partly as he could barely come to look at Frankfort. The squirrel noticed, a little annoyed, but tried to explain the best he could.
"Abbot Marthomis, the hares who you thought were protecting you, were not protecting you at all. They are agents of secret vermin, the badgers who come from Salamandastron, the superstitious tyrants have been pulling the wool over all of your eyes for generations until we broke their code! I know what we had done seems harsh, but these creatures are deceived to serve them, using the vermin to keep your people docile and in the dirt while they live as petty warlords no better than this-erm-Markem. Or whatever his bleeding name is."
Marthomis listened in disbelief. Frankfort continued, his voice growing more and more serious. "I'd have never believed it myself, but our scholarly and wise council found it strange for a land for which was home to our greatest hero lives so poorly. They ambushed us in the woods when we sought investigation, and caused trouble for us. They intended to drain us, make Southward week by likely having us die to some vermin foolery. The barbarians are loose, and are being guided by this filth. I know it may sound insane to you, but what we have seen and witnessed, it is the pure and honest truth."
Marthomis was silent, speaking once Frankfort was finished. "I am sorry, Prince Frankfort, but what you have seen I have not witnessed, I had only witnessed those hares defending our abbey-"
"Failing to defend." Frankfort noted. "I know this is difficult to comprehend, but in time you and your abbey will come to see our way of things. For the best. We are not here to conquer you, but to liberate you, to bring the light of civilization back to woodlanders here and save the vermin from themselves! By any means necessary."
The abbot nodded his head, although he clearly didn't believe any of it. He was thinking he was talking to some mad creature, an insane hermit living in some woods. Yet it was clear that Frankfort believed each thing he said.
"I was expecting from you to keep the abbey denizens in line for me, for I would not wish to shame myself in doing any harm to you or your abbey, abbot. This is holy ground for my people as much as yours. The bells above you were made from the Bellmaker himself, and when we finally take this land and liberate it from vermin and evil forever, it will ring out in glory and victory."
Marthomis suddenly grunted, having enough and shaking his head.
"I am sorry, Prince Frankfort, but such a thing to me and this abbey is unacceptable! Even with the Long Patrol as your enemies, you humiliate this abbey by having your soldiers march into our ward and kill defenseless hares, threatening our healers. I pass by slaves in a abbey built by free beasts, for free beasts-"
Marthomis was stopped by Frankfort's paw before the prince pinched his nose with frustration. "Abbot, we have no slaves, they are simply learning serfs. They may not leave their serfdom, but they need to be controlled to contain their darker, murderous urges. We are harming them to save them. I will not have you demean us by claiming them to be slaves. As for the hares, perhaps what we had done seems unjust, but it was justice! They attacked us while they slept, a dishonorable act in itself, in the midst of our camp. They unleashed a murderer upon us who claimed the life of a dear friend and mentor."
"If you want our abbey, you have it, do not expect my warm welcome." Marthomis huffed. Frankfort only stared back, thinking a bit too long for Marthomis's liking. Marthomis arose and sighed "I am sorry abbot, but this is the way of things, I hope you will understand in time." Frankfort snapped at the door, and Samkon entered. The one eyed mouse stood behind Marthomis as Frankfort made his demands clear.
"Abbot Marthomis, for your sake, and for the sake of this abbey you will keep everyone free of trouble, and will cause none yourself. I will be using this office for its space, and you will respect me and my generals as you had those traitorous hares. If you don't, abbot. I will find some beast who will." Marthomis's eyes widened to the threat as he was escorted out of his office by Samkon.
Frankfort sat down, and a strange smile came over his face but he tried to shake it away. No, what I am doing is most unfortunate. That poor, deluded fool. He should know better, but doesn't. It will take years to get them to learn. To respect me. Frankfort didn't wish to admit it, but he was thinking of a lot of things. Dark things. Things no beast of his purity and knowledge should ever think of, but as he stared at that door of the abbot's office alone, his mind began to wander to foul and unfortunate places.
_
Borbon, Eskert, and Loy traveled down the corridors in a silent mood, although Dangan was not far back as he was unpacking their things in one of the rooms. Borbon was silent as they walked, and Eskert and Loy felt a bit awkward as they approached one of the rooms. Borbon placed his war hammer on the side and gave a deep sigh, feelings of awkwardness heaved down on him much heavier than before. Before him was a large room with an equally awkward guard of Kelsum's army guarding the door, making way for Borbon as he reported to him.
"Your daughter is in there, sir. As requested."
Eskert spoke up "Borbon, if you wish, we can-"
"You twu stuy outside. Dus is a mule mutter." Borbon said swiftly. Loy and Eskert frowned and did as bidded and stayed outside Borbon opened the door, trying to put on a happy and jovial face. He had not seen his daughter Lusma in several seasons since he sent her to Redwall, knowing that Gandal and his goons were looking for her after killing Lorgar. Borbon found it sickening he had to be bothered by Gandal's insistence on breaking the children of the heroes who helped murder his master, he was aware full well of the dark hearted oaths the rat made against him. He felt more relief as he looked inside, seeing Lusma standing there, but his joy faded as he closed the door in the dark room and seeing the terror and derangement on Lusma's face as she backed up against the wall.
"Lusma!" Borbon said with a pretend jovialness. Borbon knew that things must be strange to her, and he approached, but Lusma again was backing away from him.
"Pa-" Lusma sniffed. Borbon came close, as Lusma partly allowed her father to hold her as he held her dearly and close, although even this was ruined by a tense awkwardness as Lusma quickly pushed him away.
"Pa! Whut huve ya dune!? Whut huppuned!? Why are dum beusts killun our friends!?" Lusma hoped that her father was a part of some heroic and secretive ploy, but her worst fears came to light as Borbon tried to explain.
"Duy areun't our friunds, me luttle pubble. Yuo gut to understund, its cumpli-" Borbon ducked in time as Lusma flew into a rage, throwing a few books laying at the ground at him, crying in horror and desperation. Borbon rushed over to her, trying to calm her down "Lusma! Enough of dut! Pleuse!"
"Yuo murdured dum! You murdured hures!? Why!?"
Borbon did not answer the question as he forced his daughter to sit as she rocked in his paws as she cried in his arms "Why!? Why!? Why!?"
"I dud it fur yuo, pleuse, tulk to me." Borbon begged, but this only made her cry harder, something he didn't intend. It likely dawned a bit late on him that he had been too far gone from her life, he had spent a long time hunting down Gandal with Siegfried, and now here he was leading an army into her new home, killing hares. Borbon didn't like the Long Patrol very much, he could only admit to himself, and tried desperately to get Lusma to see it that way. "I'm surrey Lusma, I truly aum. But dum Lung Patrul abanduned Lurgar's sun to slavury an' deuth. Yuo remumber Lurgar? I juined de's good beusts to help hum. I-"
Lusma pushed him away "Whuy kunda excuse be dut!?" Her tears turned to anger "Yuo murdured beusts here, pa! You cume here at der head of aun army, takun me hume! Huw cuold yuo!?"
"I diud it to avenunge our real hume, Lusma!" Borbon snapped back "Gandul took dut away! He took me only friend awuy as wull!"
"I knuw, but he aiun't here ain't he!? Dum hures duwn der look liuke ruts to ya!?"
"They abanduned me, an' Lurgur. Without de's yellow fulk, we wouldn't be here. Helpun guud beasts."
"I dun't wunt ya here!" Lusma kicked the floor in rage. Borbon rolled his eyes "Ya dun't mean dut."
"Just leuve me alune, pa. I dun't wunt ya here, I dun't wanna see ya ever agun! Uncle Siegfried is-"
"He aun't yer uncle, an' he aun't yer friund. He shut at me thrice, an' likely alluwed varmunts to overrun our cump, an' get us killed! He abunded dut cause to cume here an' spread lies."
Lusma was mortified by what she heard and backed into a corner, continuing to cry. Borbon tried to approach, but she wedged herself away as she begged "Pleuse just leuve, pa. I dun't wunna see yuo! Yuo ruined everydung, ya shumed me, ya shumed ma!"
"Lusma. Pleuse, dun't mention hur." Borbon begged "Yuo dun't mean it, I knuw dut cause ya be yuong. In tiume, you'll understund." Borbon desperately wanted to kiss his daughter on the head, but she refused to even look at him as she cried in the corner. Slowly, Borbon dejectedly walked to the door and opened it and closed it behind him. Eskert and Loy stood there in awkward silence, both giving him a sad look. Borbon sighed deeply and turned to the guard "Let her out to wunder, but keep her cluse an' muke sure she gets to bud un tiume."
The three went down towards their rooms, with Loy breaking the awkward silence. He had spent much of the previous battle in the back, a bit unsure on killing Long Patrol still, but was more than eager to join Gosland's division in helping the Southwarders advance. For his first true pitched battle, Loy was aware he was being babied. When he did speak, it was with concern.
"I'm so sorry that had to happen like that, Borbon. Are you going to be alright?" The three entered the room to find Dangan stretching out blankets and unpacking gear, pillows, and then moving out to find another box. Borbon sat on one of the beds, sad but not broken up about it. "I kund uf suspected dus would huppun dur mument dur fightun sturted here. It would huve been much butter if dur Southwurders captured dum beasts dun kill dum."
"They were fighting us, no doubt they would have fought to the bitter last considering their training and nature." Eskert reminded them. "Long Patrol as we know them are still elite warriors, I heard a single legless officer killed six on his deathbed."
Loy frowned "Had only they been using such might against the vermin."
Borbon nodded, partly in agreement even if he knew better. The mole sighed and spoke with a low tone. "Aye. Lusma beun hure fur tuo lung, but I cun't gut buck tu hur just knuw. Gandul is stull out dur, an' she is angury. I'd be tou in her shues. It'll tuke tiume, fur all of dum. But duy'll see it out wuy."
Eskery frowned as well and nodded "I wish we could save all of them. Have you told her-"
"Nut yut, an if dur seusons be goud to me, she'll wunt evun be dur."
Loy nodded, although the prospect made him personally sick. Loy had overheard what Borbon and Eskert were going to do to the traitors Lufan and Siefried, and it ate at him. Eskert had explained the hedgehog's betrayal, even as he still thought of Mela. Borbon nodded as he spoke up once again.
"I dunk aftur we fiund an' kill Gandul, I am takun Lusma buck to Pulewind, whure she'll be sufe an' spund me tiume with hur. Dur we cun tulk in blooming fields, whure dur is nune of dis dirty viulence. Dur we cun return to nurmality. A pux on Gandul an' his deud muster fur stealun dut frum us. Me whule life wus sut out fur us buck in dur coluny. The varuments stule much frum us-"
"And they will steal no more." Eskert said, a smile creeping across his face in a kind manner. He touched Borbon's shoulder as the two looked to Loy. "Loy, will you be-"
"I owe that much to Lufan as you do, Eskert." Loy said, nodding his head. "I will be there. For the friend he once was."
Eskert looked to Borbon for approval who nodded in turn. The three unpacked their things and heard a distant sound of thunder in the distance. A storm was coming once again, and the blowing of trees was loud enough outside. By the time Dangan returned with another box of their things, the three had gone to do their task, and he waited inside in silence, knowing what they intended to do.
_
Curlor stood at the edge of the door, with a strange yellow rabbit to his side. The small and meekish apprentice to this famed scholar stood by, watching the equally small and elderly mouse walk up the stairs, being helped by a mouse smaller than he was. Curlor knew the mouse well, he was one of Stenna's youngsters who was helping the elderly Shackleford up Redwall's steps, speaking kindly to the much older mouse. "Sorry about all the steps, sir, Redwall is just like that I am afraid."
"Oh no need for such apologies, young Traz. These stairs were made for stronger beasts, and it gives me a good reason to be in shape again. When I was your age, young beast, I was practically hopping all the way up and down the stairs of my school! Oh the teachers would always say 'Shackleford! Please slow yourself! You'll injure your legs!' Bah! I say my legs were much the same as when I did running!"
Curlor was allowed back into the library as Shackleford met him, extending his paw to him. "Ah, you must be the local recorder of Redwall then? This is your library, I take it?"
"Yes, and-" Curlor was unsure what to say, but he was interrupted as Shackleford introduced himself in a professional manner. "Good Recorder, I am Shackleford, Scholar and Studious Historian of Southward. I think you already met my equally studious assistant Horst."
Horst smiled and said quite proudly "I got your crumpets and tea ready for you as well sir, should we begin then?"
"You barely told me what you folk plan to do here." Curlor reacted defensively, but Shackleford explained kindly. "Oh, I apologize. I didn't really tell Horst either. Good Traz, why don't you go and find us some pillows and chairs, we'll need to be comfy if we will be here awhile."
"Yes sir!" Traz had been slow to bring up Shackleford for a reason, Curlor watched as the young mouse limped back down the stairs. He had never seen the mouse so lively before, all things considered. Traz was brought to the abbey after a vermin raid upon his village some time ago, likely from marauding Black Clads who were making their way back north. One of these monsters had broken the mouse's leg, and killed much of his extended family, with his uncle dropping him off at the abbey till the village countryside was safe, which unfortunately would never come to pass.
Curlor however was baffled why a mouse such as him would willingly serve Shackleford so as the recorder returned to his desk and lightly complained "Oh, I must say, Shackleford. I am honored to have a scholar here, but your companions down there certainly made a mess of things! I have no clue where to even begin to be honest."
"Ah, then perhaps you can begin with this 'Great Vermin Band's' siege, and the treason of their true masters then." Curlor's face blanked when this was brought up as Shackleford looked around the room with amazement at all the books. He pulled one histories off the shelf, reading it religiously and with wonderment in his eyes. Curlor begged to ask "Good sir, you truly believe all that?"
"Oh yes, in fact, I wrote several books on the subject." As if on some cue for a play, Horst produced his copy of the Cycle of Atrocity and gave it to Curlor, which was followed by several papers and tomes of vermin history, culture, and even a draft of vermin religions. Curlor's eyes widened at this and had to set it all down. Shackleford came up to Curlor, opening a book and reading it loudly.
"Oh dear! Such a great work straight from the legends and myths of Redwall abbey itself! Oh how I longed to see all of this for myself! My good recorder, my speciality of study had long been in fascination of vermin and their natures. With so much sources and tomes of knowledge, I can finally create my masterful work! A full histories and study on vermin anatomy and a personal look into their nature directly!"
Curlor looked baffled, asking "You study vermin specifically, why?"
Horst answered for Shackleford "Oh, we sometimes forget. Southward doesn't have vermin in it, all this stuff about treachery and barbarism is mostly new to us. All we have is legends and songs, sir."
Curlor scoffed and even chuckled a bit "Sounds like a paradise."
"Oh, that is because it is." Shackleford said quite happily "Our lands are full of roads, castles, and steeples. It is why when I read the reports of mud huts and far reaching forests, its clear to me as day something was foul! My good recorder, when Matthias the Warrior spared the fox Slagar the Cruel the first time, certainly it was on the insistence of this strange fellow, 'Basil Stag Hare'. Curious is it not?"
Curlor raised an eyebrow "I don't recall that, but-"
"But that is what is written! I have sources dating from the Tome of Recorded Histories of the Siege of Redwall itself of course, and it shows as clear as day that the Long Patrol hare Basil had done something most strange. Then there is the mysterious appearance of a badger king? Orlando the Axe, strange his line. Very strange."
Curlor sat down on his bench, looking at Shackleford "Strange isn't it that he appears and his daughter is captured unharmed and unbroken by a group of professional vermin, known for their violence. Strange isn't it that as Orlando goes to be a lord in the mountain, a badger stays in Redwall, his own daughter, in such a high position of power? Many such cases it is to me, for it to be a mere coincidence. Badgers, we know are violent when they need to be, and clearly they have long suppressed their verminous roots, but still hold such dark hearts. It is good Frankfort listens to my advice, otherwise the Long Patrol and the badger lords may have led us into a deadly trap."
Curlor was about to speak up again, but he began to think on it a bit more. He found it indeed strange, as Traz returned with pillows and chairs. Horst immediately sat down in comfort as Traz spoke kindly to the squirrel recorder "Curlor, you want anything from the kitchens, sir?"
"N-no. Not now."
Shackleford pulled another book off the shelf, dusting it off "Ah, Curlor? This is your work?"
Shackleford revealed a huge tome, a copy of his work on the days of Jue the Warrior and of Kasg's invasion. In a small circle, Traz and Horst got comfortable and soon Curlor joined them as they began to speak of his book. Shackleford's criticisms of it were light, but Curlor began to immediately feel a comfort with the older creature and his scholarly nature, reading deeper and deeper into the books, taking each word.
"Ah, there it is! The mentions of Galgor, who strangely 'won every battle but still was losing the war'. Spoken from the words Jue himself."
"Yes, Jue did mention it more than once to me."
"How then, does one lose every battle but still end up winning in the end?" Traz huffed and spoke, almost dumbly. "Could it have been he was only lulling the woodlanders into thinking the vermin were winning, when in reality he had full control over everything?"
"Not quite, you must remember my good Traz, badgers are no longer vermin, but half-so. Their ambition was to control what they had already conquered, the vermin are just a means to that end in some cases but not all. We must give them some benefit of the doubt of course."
"Your saying that Jue's mission was lie?" Curlor looked at him strangely, and the scholar chuckled. "Oh my dear squirrel, I am a scholar of Southward. We are civilized creatures, we don't believe in things like 'magic' or 'spirits' or any of that other nonsense. Martin was a great warrior and the customs of this abbey bring out a warrior's heart in many, but truly there is only us and reality, and little more. We are reasonable creatures, enlightened by our education and strong thinking, more conscious than the mad vermin who must rely on their low wit to explain the world. It would explain why the badgers rely on speaking of spirits and magic, to make it seem like a higher power gives them authority over others simply because of peasant beliefs. One day I hope my own home country can put away such silly notions of the spirit of the 'Bellmaker', and embrace a more rational and logical way of having a functional and civilized society."
Curlor was taken aback, but he nodded and accepted this logic at face value. He wasn't too keen on spirituality himself, but the way Shackleford explained it to him, it made sense. The four continued to think and theorize, all with Shackleford being informative as always. Curlor was smiling, the thoughts of what had happened below him melted as he was asked his opinion of the matters, informing Shackleford as much as the scholar informed him. He felt like an enlightened creature amongst others.
The conversation turned to philosophy and histories, something everyone besides Traz enjoyed the most. Curlor listened like a child to Shackleford reading from books, making his theories and speaking as if he had been there himself.
"I must admit something." Curlor finally spoke. The group became silent as Curlor spoke in an almost jubilant tone "I think I get the picture, Shackleford, but there is something you and others must see. During the siege of Redwall, there was a spy within these walls, a vermin living amongst us so casually! He was brought here under strange circumstances."
Shackleford nodded, adding "Vermin, even young ones, are tainted by their barberous nature. Show us, I would like to see this vermin, no doubt a spy for that enemy army outside and protected as such by the Long Patrol."
"No doubt." Curlor remarked. He was starting to get a handle on it, as Traz arose and huffed "I think I know who are speaking of, its that weasely fellow ain't he? The one who threw Jase an' Gaisan over the walls?"
"My word." Shackleford said shocked "Such violence, I am afraid such a creature is clearly more tainted than others I am afraid."
"Tainted indeed!" Zeal was in Curlor's voice as he marched down the stairs, leading on his host as Shackleford and his assistants tried to keep up. They were marching to Snot's room, and no doubt he had been hiding since the violence started. Curlor had not seen him in Cavern Hole, and he had no doubt he was one of the vermin Dakan had unwittingly let in. Thoughts of anger filled his mind as he marched up to the room and bursted in.
Only to find nothing.
The group looked inside, seeing an untidy and messy room with fur everywhere, and trash upon the floor. The stink of Snot was foul and lumed, but Curlor looked around and then out one of the windows. Shackleford wondered loudly "There may have been a vermin here once, perhaps the guards were rid of them when they liberated the abbey?"
"No, I would have known." Curlor said, a little embarrassed. He exited the room, and looked around before heading with the group towards the Great Hall.
Not far from them, Snot was being grappled by Norma, with Nafpha looking around a corner. The young mouse was wide eyed with surprise as the group left, and felt relief. Norma held her webbed paws over Snot's mouth, finally realizing he was in terrible danger as they had been explaining to him. Norma continued to hold Snot this way, the weasel was anxious and angry the entire time. Once Norma removed her paw from the young weasel's mouth, he was panting in silence.
"Get the attic Norma, there are some floorboards Jase and Gaisan used to use, he can hide in there!"
"I'll starve up der!" Snot protested. Norma huffed and shushed him "We'll bleeding feed you, Snot. Now be silent, before they hear us!"
The three youngsters snuck through the abbey, slowly heading upstairs. Norma and Nafpha were as silent as the grave, hurrying along Snot to his new home above them. They had both witnessed not long ago the poor state of the vermin serfs now wandering about the camps outside, and rightfully were fearful what would happen to Snot. Disappearing into the attic, Norma and Nafpha heard rain beginning to patter the abbey and voices being raised outside. Norma went to the windows to look down and immediately brought her head low.
"What is it?" Nafpha asked. Norma only stared at her in horrific silence, saying nothing other than. "Don't look outside."
_
Lufan and Siegfired were brought outside with their paws bound in rope, expecting what awaited them. The skies were growing gloomy as the two were marched to Redwall's gate, but stopped at it by Gaslow who bidded them to kneel. Both did, turning to the abbey with gray clouds overhead and rain slowly beginning to drizzle on top of them. The first beasts they saw walking out of the abbey were Eskert and Borbon, followed closely by Loy with their weapons to their side, approaching them. They were followed in kind by Prince Frankfort, his councilors, and his generals who took their places close by.
Siegfried expected the worst, but not this. He expected a quick hanging and for it be done with, but his despair increased as Borbon approached grimly towards him. Lufan was silent and stoic, looking on at Loy who moved his head away in some manner of shame and anger. Loy took his place in the far back, gaining what strength was needed to see this all through.
Loy, you fool. You simple, tragic fool.
Lufan looked to Eskert who was approaching and looked hollow, not even bothering to look down at him. He expected such spite in some way. Kneeling on Redwall's road, Siegfried was flanked by Borbon and Eskert flanked by Lufan. The hedgehog looked up at Eskert who starred forward to his true master, the squirrel prince himself making his way to them both and taking out his sword.
"Wait!" A voice cried out, an old and horrified voice.
Marthomis waddled out of the abbey, the dormouse wide eyed and was trembling "Enough of this, Prince Frankfort! I-"
Several guards got in his way, as Marthomis stepped back. Frankfort frowned, but he figured this didn't exactly look good, but it had to be done. He looked to the two and spoke with an authoritative voice, creeping with the light rain around them.
"Lufan and Siegfried, you had both flocked to our cause early in this campaign as you camped amongst us. You were present when we were there to do our justice upon the true evil of these forests, and then betrayed out cause. You two have been deemed guilty by your fellows who had trusted you, and betrayed our cause as agents of the Long Patrol. You are guilty of aiding the vermin in their cause, but we of Southward are merciful and kind, I will not have you killed until you hear our requests." Frankfort started. Even Loy was a bit surprised, listening intently.
"For you Siegfried, your friend Borbon has requested me not to be kind. You will be executed regardless, but mercifully. We have prepared a gallows for you outside these walls, and you may leave for the Dark Forest on the terms that you renounce your old loyalties. For you Lufan, I was personally asked by your friend Eskert to spare you, but under the condition you renounce your dark deeds and aid us in ridding this land of evil, and you may live out your days as a serf."
Lufan and Siegfried look to their respective former friends, with Siegfried the most shocked of them. The mole looked up at Borbon as Marthomis protested loudly.
"Please, there is no need for this violence! No more beasts need to be killed this day!"
Frankfort turned to Marthomis and sighed, ignoring him as he turned back to the two. Siegfried's surprise turned to tears, trying to reason with his old friend. "Aftur all I hud hulped ya with, dus is huw Burbon Rucklure repuys his friunds?"
Borbon was silent, taking out his warhammer and knelt on it, threateningly and looking down with less anguish then he should have been feeling. Lufan looked up at Eskert, although the hollowness of his eyes no longer frightened him. Lufan was starting to pity him in a strange way, even after all he had said and done, Eskert was trying to save him. Or perhaps, Lufan thought, it was one last cruel jest if Eskert was smart enough to know his answer already.
The silence was the answer they gave Frankfort, and he accepted it was a sigh.
"Fine, then you shall be executed now."
"Nu! Pa!" Borbon looked to the door in horror to find his daughter outside her room, having come down the moment she heard what was going on. She rushed out, screaming and begging "Uncle Siegfriud! Pleuse, pa! Don't! I didun't mean whut I suid! Please!" Borbon's heart dropped to know that Lusma believed it was because of her that he was doing this. Siegfried looked on, his heart rising to know at least one beast loved him in some way.
Marthomis caught Lusma before she could hurt herself trying to push through guards and cause a fuss, the abbot speaking one last time in protest "Prince Frankfort, this is holy ground. I beg of you, not here. Think of Martin, son of Southward. Think of the peace so sorely fought-"
Frankfort interrupted by calling him out "I have thought of it, and it is final. Just as Martin struck down his enemies, so too shall I give my friends their needed vengeance. I am sorry abbot, but peace is no longer an option."
Marthomis brought a weeping Lusma into the abbey, turning and holding her tightly, nearly crying himself. Others stood on, amazed and horrified at the defilement of the abbey's safety. Lusma continued to beg, but her screams were drowned out by the rain and the sound of drums announcing the execution.
"Do you have any final words?" Frankfort asked.
Siegfried looked to his friend, tears in his eyes. "Burbon, I nevur betrayud yuo. I am scured, of yuo an' whut yuo are becuming. Dun't du dis, gu hume with Lusma, leuve all dus behund. I knuw yuo are stull in dur, I knuw ya are stull dur sume old mole who fought Kusg lung ago. I am frughtuned, I truly am." Borbon only lightly shook his head, raising his warhammer over his shoulder. Siegfried closed his eyes and looked at the ground, lightly weeping at this nightmarish reality.
Lufan looked up at Eskert, his sword over his shoulder as well. Eskert's lips trembled with rage, taking it rather personally that Lufan refused his life, perhaps thinking in spite of him. Lufan felt at peace, a weight lifted from his shoulders, as if he very soul had already left Mossflower.
"I would have followed you to hell itself, Eskert. I knew her, Elain, your two little ones, they were like family to me who had none. I would have followed you to any place to find your peace. Your were the bravest mouse I knew, far more so than I, but what you are doing. It isn't right, and I had hoped you would see it yourself. No, you won't listen. I am sorry what had happened, I truly am, but I cannot follow you. Not again. My silence caused too much damage already."
Eskert blurted out in an angry whisper "Is that all?"
Lufan blinked and sweetly said "I forgive you Eskert, I just hope Elain can as well." Lufan turned his head down, showing his neck to allow Eskert to cut. Taking their positions close to their former friends, with some of the Redwallers looking away in anguish or protesting, especially Tangran who refused to look upon the execution. Borbon and Eskert looked at one another and raised their weapons over the heads of the two, and a nod exchanged between them brought them down upon them.
When it was done, Eskert and Borbon looked at one another and only knew one thing at that moment.
They were bound to the same fate and forged a friendship anew in blood, for all time would stain them, and for all time it would be their memory.
