Excited to get this chapter out as quickly as I did! As for all please let me know what you enjoy and what I can improve on. Enjoy!
The warm crackling of the fire in the sweltering room did nothing to keep Samuel from dozing off in the Abbey's private study. He had to force himself to stay awake. This was an important meeting, and he did not want to anger the Abbot. Abbot Micah sat at the head of a long rectangular oak table with Sister Beryl to his right and Samuel, currently acting as the recorder, to his left. Next to Samuel was Redwall's head cook Willard with his head deep into the list of the foodstuffs that were currently stored in the Abbey's larder. Across from Willard sat Eli. He leaned onto elbows that were propped on the table, attentively focused on the cook. They all sat in silence as the plump squirrel read the list, the quiet only being broken by the burning fire and the chef's occasional murmuring.
Samuel quickly lost interest in watching the squirrel read and instead found himself staring at the towering shelves of books that surrounded the Abbey beasts. They were in the library's musty and smoky private study. Reserved for any beast that needed enough space to delve into the history and life of Mossflower country. There were large heavy bound books, ancient manuscripts, scrolls, dusty pieces of parchment, and every other thing beasts used to record their doings. All were placed on the many shelves in little semblance of order. Some of them had titles on the side. A few stuck out to Samuel. Gabool the Wild and other Searats, Medicinal Uses for Pine Bark, Traveling Tails to Mistmantle Keep, and much more. Samuel couldn't or was too tired to read all of them. He noted to himself that one of his future tasks should be to re-organize this room. Or at least take an account of all that was in it. The books of the private study felt like they were one small sneeze away from collapsing and smothering all of them. Even now their imposing appearance slowly sucked the air from his lungs.
A clearing of one of the guest's throats snapped Samuel back to attention and he straightened in his chair. It was from Eli, who wore an annoyed look as the cook hadn't finished pondering the record of vittles. The amount of time they had been waiting indicated the cook didn't have any good news. Willard mumbled something to himself under his breath but ignored Eli. He continued to read the receipt from the larder. Eli sighed and leaned off the table. He slumped down into his chair wearing a look of defeated anxiety. After several long minutes of waiting, finally, the cook said something.
"Well, it's certainly less than what we'd liked… but I could make it work." The cook's gruff low voice in the warm room tested Samuel's ability to stay awake.
"How is it compared to last season?" Asked Sister Beryl patiently.
Samuel braced himself for another extended pause, he saw Eli do the same. The response came quickly.
"In the past, I would've been more comfortable with what we have. But considering most every beast, including myself is certain that we'll have a tough winter, I am worried this winter's feast won't be as extravagant as in seasons past."
Samuel released the breath he was holding and looked out the window at the other end of the room. Outside he could see the Abbey courtyard, the namesake red wall, and the fields and forests off in the distance. All of which were covered in a fine white blanket. It was early in the season, but as of last night, the first snow had fallen.
"You didn't answer sister Beryl's question." Abbot Micah added bluntly.
The head cook's face contorted in thought, taken back by the Abbot's forthrightness.
"Well, we won't starve. I'll see to that. But I would limit the feasting and such just to be safe. Again, we can do the winter feast but, I don't want to hear any complaining if we hav' to skip some of the more… specialty dishes." The cook added with a twinge of concern.
Abbot Micah relaxed, and his face took on a pleasing look.
"Of course, I understand. Please forgive me Willard, these rumors of having to cancel the winter's feast have been getting on my nerves. The first snow of the season hasn't helped either."
"Myself as well," added Sister Beryl. "We have the utmost confidence in you no matter what the situation and weather may bring us." She added with a comforting smile.
Willard threw up his paws in a sign of understanding, surprised to have been apologized to. "No, it's quite alright. Waking up to snow this morning was an alarming surprise to me as well. I just ask I get no more surprises, or I might bash my head against Josephs's bell."
"Would it help you keep your wits if we canceled the winter feast, Willard?" Abbot Micah asked cautiously.
The cook was adamant in his response. "Absolutely not! I would lose my mind if we did cancel it! We haven't canceled the winter feast in generations. The Abbey has gone through much worse than an early snow and we've never let that stop us from celebrating all our hard work during the season."
"Abbot, canceling the feast would do more harm to the Abbey than not. Everybeast looks forward to the winter feast and canceling it would only scare them when we need them to be confident." Eli interjected politely.
"I understand, I just want to make Willard's job easier for these next few months."
The cook turned his attention to Eli. "My job would be easier, and I wouldn't worry about our food if your hares stopped eating everything in sight!"
"I apologize for any trouble they may be causing you, Willard. I know it's only because you and your cooks are the best in all Mossflower." Eli ended with a flourish.
"Yes, yes, yes. I am well aware of that, they let me know every time they come back for fifths! Please I just ask you to keep that young rascal boosenberry-"
"Corporal Bushby." Eli interrupted.
"Yes him! Keep him out of my kitchen! It's difficult enough feeding this Abbey, I don't need a clumsy hare making my job impossible!"
Between his furious notetaking, Samuel remembered that Corporal Bushby was the youngest of the Long Patrol hares stationed at Redwall. He had tried to steal a taste of a pie from the kitchen just before the harvest and ended up knocking it onto the head cook. A few days ago, Bushby had collided with Willard as he was bringing out tomato-leek stew. The cook chased the hare all throughout the Abbey with a rolling pin because of that.
"I'll let Captain Saintain know your requests," Eli responded. Not at all unkindly.
Abbot Micah clasped his hands together, "That was the important matter I wanted to discuss with you all. Now we can dispel the rumors that have been circulating about starvation and whatnot. I suppose there isn't anything one of you all wishes to discuss while we're still here?"
Eli cleared his throat. "Actually, Abbot there is one small matter I would like to address with you."
"What may that be Eli?"
Eli straightened himself in his chair. "Dane's otter patrol and a party of Guosim shrews should be back from their campaign in the north. I would request that Samuel and I are present for their return." Samuel perked up at the mention of Dane. He had been their companion on Samuel and Eli's travels all throughout Mossflower. After Esther's death, he decided to return to his otter holt where he would become Skipper of otters.
"It's important that we see how Dane's otters are doing and how the Guosim shrews are as well. Also, Samuel has been working hard and he deserves a break away from the library." Eli added.
Abbot Micah paused and sipped some mint Tea that had been brewed on the room's fireplace.
"Of course, you two can. It's important we let our otter and shrew friends know that they always have Redwall's full support." The Abbot smiled. "And if my memory serves me well you two have a history with Dane, don't you? You should take Brin along with you, for old times' sake."
"As long as Samuel thinks it's a good idea to abandon his teaching of the dibbons for a day." Sister Beryl added her dark eyes resting on the younger Greyfur.
It didn't take Samuel a long time to decide. "We'll let the dibbuns have a snow day until I get back. I'll have my items packed and ready to go early tomorrow morning!"
Eli laughed, "Wonderful! I'll let Captain Saintain know about our trip and we'll be off." The meeting adjourned and Samuel left the room with renewed vigor.
The rest of the day came and went with heightened excitement for Samuel. Not only would he get to see Dane again, but he would also get a break from teaching the dibbons. He ran to his quarters to make sure he had his winter cloak. Relieved to have found it he ran to the Abbeys storerooms to fill his knapsack with candied nuts, flatbread, and a wedge of cheese for the trip tomorrow. Samuel spent the remainder of the day bouncing around the Abbey in giddy anticipation.
The next morning Samuel was up just before sunrise. He had slept surprisingly well and was ready to trudge across the snowy Mossflower countryside. He donned old winter boots that he was gifted from the former Abbey librarian and wrapped his winter cloak snugly around him. He threw his knapsack over his shoulders and as quietly as he could manage, hurried to where he would meet Eli at Redwall's main gates.
The sun was just rising and there were already Abbey beasts going about their morning chores in the great hall. Samuel quickly and carefully avoided the drowsy beasts who stumbled about before him. He was so full of excitement that he didn't notice the strange looks he was getting from the woodlanders he was interrupting.
Once outside the Abbey's main hall, he could see Eli walking across the snow-covered front lawn toward the main gate. His broadsword stuck out at an odd angle from under his winter cloak. Samuel hurried to catch up with him. He trudged stoically through the snow which lay in some places up to his knees. Breathless Samuel caught up to Eli who had turned around hearing his brother blunder through the cold.
"We've got a long way to go for ye to be breathless before we've left."
Samuel stooped over to catch his breath. "I'm just excited don't worry about me."
"Good to hear!" Eli said as he slapped him on the back, driving the air out of Samuel's lungs. The brothers reached the gate as a familiar voice called out from behind them.
"Fancy seeing you two up this early." Samuel and Eli turned around and looked up. It was Brin, she sat on the stairs leading to the top of the Abbey walls. She was wearing a mottled green winter cloak and had a homespun scarf wrapped around her neck. She had a walking stick and a small bag slung over her shoulder. It was clear she was ready to come with them.
"I can't believe ye' two would've visited Dane without inviting me! I should have Sister Beryl paddle both of ye senseless." She playfully threatened.
Samuel was taken aback. Seems like in their excitement both he and Eli had forgotten to ask Brin to come along. They were both flush with embarrassment.
Samuel apologized and smiled warmly. "Please don't do that, we'd never get to the otters then!"
Brin laughed. "Well, we best be going now, shall we?"
Eli ordered the gatekeep to open the main gate. The trio waved goodbye to some of dibbuns watching them on the wall and were on their way.
The freshly fallen snow lay delicately on the rolling hills and forests of Mossflower. With every step, Eli paved the way closer to where he remembered Dane's holt should be at this time of year. It was slow going through the fresh snow, but the three friends took no heed of the time. They were excited, and frankly, Samuel and Eli could use the break away from their responsibilities at the Abbey. Beyond a few scattered clouds, there was nothing but blue skies and sunshine. A perfect day for a stroll through the countryside.
After a short time, Eli turned south heading towards the river where Dane's otters usually spent the winter. They passed cottages and small farms with smoke lazily flowing from their chimneys. He recognized the Spinlers cottage, the shrew family of 12. Then they passed the fir grove where the moles Nmola and Oren Toughroot lived, a while later they passed by old Braddok's small farm. Eli and Samuel had spent almost a season living with the old badger warrior. It was part of what inspired them to go adventuring with Brin, Dane, and Esther. A rush of memories flooded through the jovial travelers, and they began recounting their adventures of seasons past. Eventually, Brin had to stop the Greyfur's, or else they would've been tired of talking by the time they got to the otters.
A little after mid-day the trio made it to the broadstream that would lead them to Dane's holt. They paused for a meal of bread and soft cheese and some candied chestnuts they had brought with them. They drank and ate on the riverbank until they were satisfied then turned southeast to follow the river. Their talk changed from memories of their adventures to matters of the Abbey.
"Those hares need something new every day to keep them from getting into trouble," Eli complained as he slipped over a fallen log.
"I know they're good chaps and mean us well, but almost every day they're either getting under some beast's fur or are beggin' me to spar. Now don't get me wrong I'm always ready for an ol' fensing session but between th' two of ye I'm being stretched thin with all that needs to be done."
"What needs to be done?" Samuel asked curious about his usually positive brothers' complaints.
"Well, the Abbey needs to have a few fighting beasts at the ready in case any vermin try to make it their home. But I can't have only hares patrolin' the walls because when they leave there'll be no beast but me who knows how to do it properly. So, I train a few beasts here n there to keep some ready for anything. Most don't think it's needed, but my job is to make sure that it isn't." He ducked under a low-hanging branch, heavily ladened with snow.
Samuel laughed at his brother's complaint.
"The dibbons in my lessons can't stop talking about patrolling the walls with your greatsword and fightin' allllll of the vermin. They asked me to bring you in to talk about our adventures and battles. They also think I should teach them swordsmanship instead of Redwall's history. Could you believe that!"
"They all think that I fought off a score of vermin with a broken blade, not that the first time that I picked up a sword I somehow got it stuck in the top of a tree!" Samuel laughed at the memory of having to explain to Abbot Micah how he had launched a sword as big as he into an apple tree.
"What kind of stories are you telling them, Samuel?" Brin teased.
"Nothing but my genuine truth." They all laughed.
The trio walked the incline up the riverbank. Eli slipped again and was caught by Samuel with a surprised huff. He helped him upright.
"Thank you, cold isn't good for me leg."
"Aside from patrolling the walls and your leg, what else is running you ragged?"
Eli looked at his brother his face was slightly confused. "Well, you were there with the Abbot and Sister Beryl. Our storerooms should be fine, you heard Willard. But the cold has done more than just damage our crops. It's damaged the Abbey itself. There are small gaps in the walls and parts of the Abbey that desperately need repair. It's cold now and we're still several moons from the winter feast. After a whole winter, I'm afraid that the Abbey will be in far worse condition by the time spring warms everything up."
"I'm surprised I didn't at least hear about that."
"Samuel Greyfur! Ye don't because you spend all day in that library!" Scolded Brin. "Ye don't go outside unless some beast forces ye out because most every beast can see it. Just a few nights back a section of the belltower just up an broke off! Nearly crushed some poor dibbuns, scared 'em stiff!"
"I'm surprised you didn't hear about it Samuel, those dibbuns that were almost crushed were in your class."
Samuel was flustered at the thought that he could've missed something as major as his pupils being almost crushed by falling debris from the Abbey belltower of all places. He opened his mouth to plead his innocence in such a crime.
"I'm sorry I haven't been as focused on the… deterioration of the Abbey as I guess I should be. I was busy trying to teach the dibbuns the importance of the belltower instead of noticing it falling apart." His response came out harsher than he would have liked it too, and unfortunately, it left its mark.
Eli turned back to look at his brother, his light brown eyes irked with anger. "I would hope that a real historian, one for the greatest symbol of peace in Mossflower no less, would notice the very building he's spent his whole life living in was falling apart!"
This was harsher than Samuel had thought his brother should have been. Brin felt hurt as well.
"W-Well if everyone can see that the Abbey needs repairing then why didn't we discuss it with the Abbot and Sister Beryl?" Samuel stammered.
"Because everyone knows about it. No beast thinks it's as big of an issue as I know it is."
"Your acting like the Abbey is one gust of wind away from collapsing. Surly the damage isn't that bad?" Brin started. "I'm sure it isn't the first time something like this has happened. We could just get the foremole to fix it." She pleaded her case on deaf ears.
"Then neither one of you is paying attention," Eli grumbled, just within earshot. He turned and trudged ahead of them.
Samuel couldn't control the Abbey falling apart. He wished he could help his brother with Redwall's defenses but that's not where his skills lie. The thought of the walls crumbling down to a vermin horde had given him nightmares since he was a dibbun. But Samuel was busy. He had been teaching the dibbuns, reorganizing the library, and helping Abbot Micah and Sister Beryl. Samuel had done his part. Eli was just taking out his frustrations on him. He wished Esther was here to back him. Brin only huffed and silently walked ahead to Eli.
Samuel saw a smooth rock on the ground that had been reviled from Eli's tracks. He stooped over to pick it up and rolled it around in his paw. It was cold from being hidden under the snow and fit well into his palm. Samuel went to his waist where his sling hung attached to his belt. He hadn't used his sling in ages. Now that he was away from the library he might as well try and remember how to use it. It was also the small mouse's only defense against any vermin.
Samuel removed the sling from his belt and placed the cool stone into the pocket. He spotted a branch about a quarter of the way up a pine tree ahead of him. It was broken and hung down at an awkward angle, hanging on to the tree with only a few fibers.
Samuel stepped aside from Brin and Eli to avoid hitting them and began to spin the sling. His target: the broken branch. Faster and faster until the sling was a darkened blur circling Samuel's raised arm. In an instant, with the skill forged by seasons of practice. Samuel released the stone. It missed, wide left.
Angry, Samuel went about scrabbling through the snow to find more stones. He found a handful and one by one he repeated the reloading and firing process. He missed every time. Defeated he glumly walked to where Eli and Brin waited, far ahead of him. They were watching him in a furious hushed discussion. They stopped talking when Samuel got closer. Eli stooped down to find a rock under the snow.
"You're releasing too early, that's why all your shots are straying to the left," Eli said quietly as he took Samuel's sling and swung it.
He released and with a resounding crack the branch broke off the tree and clattered to the forest floor. There was much more noise than Samuel thought there should have been. He said nothing but stared glumly at the place in the bushes where the branch landed.
"You'll get it again. The timing will come with practice." Brin said positively. Eli agreed with her.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you. You know I'm worried, and I know you are busy. But vittles aren't the only thing that's worrying me." Eli continued and looked at his brother for support.
"If the Abbey is concerned about food just think of all the other beasts in Mossflower that could be starving already. That's part of the reason I wanted to meet Dane. If they're worried about vittles, then I'd be worried. Not because we can't provide for them and ourselves, but because vermin will be looking for food as well. When their vittles run out, the vermin will get desperate, and when beasts get desperate, they're willing to do anything just to survive."
The journey took a somber tone for a while and none of them said a word. The travelers just silently marveled at the frigid beauty that was quickly becoming one of their greatest enemies.