Hello, again. Still having heaps of fun, still don't own Redwall, might be a while before I have a chance to post chapter 4. Bear with me.
Votucu
P.S. Thanks a heap to Psycho Violinist of Silentwood who sent in the wonderful review – It was just what I needed to read, for I was pondering giving up this story where it stood. But, no, I shall not (just yet, anyway) give up and here is my next instalment. Please send in reviews because I love to read what you think of my story.
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Chapter 3: New Friends and a Warrior King
Veil and Bryony were walking, Bryony harassing Veil with her questions "Who was she? How did she know you? How did she know about your past?" It was driving Veil crazy. But he refused to say anything about her. The rain was coming down hard and Veil had his arm slung around her, driving her on to shelter and safety. They reached a cave (Veil thought that this was luck if there ever was such a thing) and entered as fast as they could.
Bryony sat not very far into the cave, massaging the bruises caused by both the hail and Veil's death grip. Veil was scouting back, aware of a smell he was unused to. She eventually followed him, feeling unsafe by herself at the mouth of the cave.
Then she screamed. Veil was lying, unmoving, at the feet of a great badger "Hush small one, he will harm you no more"
"Who are you, what have you done to Veil?" she asked, stepping closer to his still form. She reached down suddenly and grabbed the sword from the crossed bands on his back, where it lived. With it in her paws, she felt strength and a sense of needing to avenge the one she loved.
"Put that mighty sword away, pretty one, I won't harm you. There's no need o be afraid of an old badger…" he trailed off and moved back, obviously afraid of something. She lowered the sword and glared up at him. He spun and ran, that's when Bryony realised that there was another creature behind her. "Don't worry, little maid, Oaklen means no harm and he wouldn't hurt a soul"
Bryony turned and felt great awe as she stared up at a beast that must have been bigger than the tapestry in the Great Hall.
"Couldn't hurt anyone, eh? He killed Veil!"
"That scum that forced you into this cave? Serves him right, I say" The badgerwoman's eyes blazed with hatred and she looked over at the still form.
"Veil didn't "force" me anywhere" Bryony protested "he brought me in here to get me out of the storm, and now he's dead!" She broke down and kneeled down at his side. Then she could smell a soft and peaceful smell as she heard soft chanting playing in the back of her head, barely distinguishable.
Sleep small mousemaid,
Let you're dreams take wing,
While you sleep, you will be
Visited by a warrior King.
The last thing that she saw was the flickering of a candle light before she could feel herself flying, soaring, gracefully upwards, ever upwards. Clouds were all around her, not as fog but as soft marshmallow types. She lazily lay down on one and waited, though she knew not what for.
Then a face appeared, one she knew well. But this time, it was lifelike and she felt a certain presence. She knew she should be afraid, for this was a mighty warrior and had many battle-born scars, but she could not feel so. Her mind was saying that this was a friend, and he was to help her.
And then, he spoke. "Small flower, Bryony, come to me" She sat up and walked. As she walked, she left the cloudy area and came to a woodland scene. In the scene, she could see a small fight. A band of otters and some other creatures, many of which she recognised, were fighting a score of vermin, and doing remarkably well, at that. Then she heard a small cry. Unaware of the danger she was putting herself in, she ran for the bundle in the ditch. But all the fighting around her had suddenly ceased. Everyone was frozen in a fighting pose. Otters with their javelins held above heir shoulders, squirrels with their bows pulled taut and their eyes looking straight down their shafts, aiming with deadly accuracy and vermin of all different sorts with their swords at crazy angles, slashing, jabbing, thrusting. But she paid no heed to them; all she could focus on was the small bundle. She picked it up and turned it over so she could see the face, then gasped aloud. Staring back up at her was the face of Veil, alright, but his face was only showing one thing, death. His eyes closed, his face sagged and his fur… lifeless. She dropped it and ran, refusing to accept and admit. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be. There wasn't a possible way.
As she ran, she crashed right into another ferret, one with a canny resemblance of Veil. But she could sense the menace radiating from this being and she instinctively backed off. Swartt made no attempt to follow her. His face was frozen in a scowl as was his whole body and the army that followed behind him. Everything was frozen. Then she could feel the being beside her again and she didn't feel afraid. Martin the Warrior took her arm and led her away from the scene. He led her to the cave of the two odd badgers and laid her down next to Veil, all the while telling her something. But she didn't listen and paid no heed to the important words. She could see Veil and her heart leapt up into her throat. She calmly laid down next to him and slept.
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Votucu here. Sorry to say it, but you are just going to have to wait to see what Martin said just like everyone else…. Heheheheh. Please send in reviews 'cause I really need them!