ÒEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!Ó
Bats are known for their skill of echolocations, which involves making high-pitched squeaks whose sound waves bounce off surrounding objects into batsÕ ears, alerting them of obstavles. Though extremely high-pitched indeed, NyctllrÕs shriek was not intended to lead her anywhere.
Llewtcy lay on the air dungeonÕs floor, having been deposited there by Nadal ob Insame himself. Her face was horribly worn, exhausted and traumatized. Her dark eyes, half-lidded, had a glazed look to them, the glazing that comes to those who have lost all will to live. Yet even that doomed expression wasnÕt the most horrific thing about LlewtcyÕs appearance. Most likely the cause of her despondence was her glaring lack of wings. Raw open flesh lined LlewÕs sides from shoulder to hip, fringed with dried blood and still welling fresh. No effort had been made to close the cruel wounds.
Horrified, Nyc sat at her stricken companionÕs side, wiping sweat from LlewÕs brow. ÒWhat did they do to you?Ó
Of course Nyc knew perfectly well that LlewÕs wings had been removed, but her question really involved cause, as indicated by the anger in her voice only barely suppressed by grief.
With great effort Llewtcy spoke, voice as weak as body. ÒHe wants...to attack...Redwall...by air.Ó She lay her head down on her exposed shoulder upon finishing speaking.
NycÕs own wings clenched irately. She needed not to ask who ÒheÓ was. But if Llew brought herself to say it, then ÒheÓ wasnÕt the point.
Troyte clambered sympathetically over to the two bats, querying with a dipped beak, ÒRedwall?Ó
Until this time Holdsclaw had remained decidedly indifferent; he still barely flinched in giving his information. ÒRedwallÑbig redstone abbey, karrk, south in Mossflower Country. A goodbeast stronghold, unmistakable from air. Rekk! One of my ancestors had a horde and tried to take it over once. Kra!Ó Holdsclaw seemed perversely proud of that fact.
ÒBut he didnÕt succeed, eh?Ó Troyte interjected.
Holdsclaw opted not to respond.
Nyctllr remained by LlewtcyÕs side until she could no longer feel her companionÕs side rise and fall with breath. Even after this point, Nyc remained silent, closing her eyes and laying her head next to LlewÕs.
Again, Troyte broke the silence. ÒWell, whyÕd he want to take it over if he already had free range of the whole skies?Ó
Holdsclaw fixed a disapproving eye on Troyte. ÒKrr. ItÕs a stronghold in the Woodlander world. To control it means to own the woodlands. Arrach!Ó
Troyte clicked his beak thoughtfully. ÒSo if thatÕs really the case, shouldnÕt we be trying to stop olÕ Nadal?Ó
ÒFrom in here? Kchackarakka!Ó Holdsclaw scoffed.
Eyes rimmed red with grief and rage, Nyctllr looked toward the two birds, steel in her voice. ÒWe will stop him.Ó
Troyte began scraping his blunted beak against the mesh enclosure walls. ÒIf I can just scrape this off my beak, I think I could get through...Ó No sooner did he finish saying this than the lower part of his beak became caught between two wire links. It took him quiet some time and pulling to free himself.
Holdsclaw again cackled in delight at the maladroit hawkÕs antics. Even he, however, was silenced by NyctllrÕs glare.
ÒBreaking through metal and glass will do us no good,Ó Nyc stated flatly. ÒTheir point is to keep us from getting out or to kill us in the attempt. But the next time that door opens, weÕre out.Ó