Chapter 14

Leslie didn't know it, but the Abbey lessons had been cancelled for the day. Brother Lucas was in the process of reorganizing his records and announced that his studious pupils would have to find something less exciting to fill their time with. Mother Brilla and the Abbey Sisters had plenty of suggestions of their own.

"I - am that is," Brother Lucas pondered, repeating the line over and over to himself. "Take on my mighty role… I - am that is, my sword will wield for me…"

The gatehouse door opened and shut. A loose paper blew across a mess of stacks of books and old papers on the Recorder's desk. Lucas looked up.

"Reorganizin', eh?" Rufus Rillflag said, eyeing the Recorder skeptically. He folded his arms.

Lucas sighed. "In the middle of it, yes," he responded and moved some papers around and into a stack to give an air of business. "What brings you up to the gatehouse?"

"I'm the Gatekeeper," the otter replied. "I come up 'ere quite often, ye may recall. Ah! it's comin' to ye now, is it? Aye, ye remembers yer ol' pal Rufus at last!" He smirked.

"Alright, alright, no need to be dramatic. All I meant was why were you up in a dusty gatehouse on such a cheery day."

"Quite chilly, actually, mate. S'not been good outside weather all day. Which leads me t'believe yew ain't been outside since mornin'." Rufus eyed the book in front of Brother Lucas. "What're ye up to, matey?"

Lucas shut the book. "Reorganizing."

"Reorganizin'?"

"Reorganizing."

"Alright mate, if ye says so. I'll be leavin' ye to yer 'reorganizin' ' then," Rufus smiled. He preferred not to pry past the point of common courtesy. If Brother Lucas said he was reorganizing, then to Rufus that was what he was doing.

"Thank you," nodded Lucas, returning to his book.

"Would y'like me t' send up some lunch, matey? Yew looks like ye 'aven't eaten a bit since mornin'."

"That would be most kind," Lucas answered, still facing his work. "I have much to do." After Rufus left Lucas stared at an open page from Abbess Germaine's earliest records. On it was a drawing of Martin the Warrior, clad in armor and holding his sword aloft.

"I don't know why…" he pondered. "But I feel, indeed, yes, I have much to do." Martin stared back. Yes my child, he seemed to say, much to do.

.

"Land ho!"

Captain Bloik of the Blackhull heard his steersbeast's call and immediately was out on the deck. "Nor'east, Signa?" he asked as he scanned the horizon.

"Aye, yon," she answered and pointed out the distant shore.

The ferret captain quickly returned to his cabin to bring out his maps, shouting as he went, "All on deck! All on deck, mates!"

Among the crew were Ringnose, the first mate, Sainla the bosun and her sister Signa, as well as others such as Sagitta Tully, a female ferret who had been enlisted from another crew for this voyage, and Rosno, the lookout. After a few calculations and compass readings, Bloik and Ringnose guessed they were not far from the opening of a river indicated on the map, north of Salamandastron. They had succeeded in passing the mountain. If this was true, this "Redwall" was only a few days inland by way of the river, which came quite close to the Abbey. Orders were given and the ship made its way to the River Moss. As bosun, Signa and her sister were left in charge of a score of the crew to guard the ship. Bloik and Ringnose would lead the rest of the crew down the River Moss in a group of longboats brought all the way from Kortron. If all went well they would be on their way back to the Fortress within the week.

.

Stalgrin and Knobear had not been gone a full day when Skarliff Krigg's scouts brought news of fourscore vermin, corsairs, approaching on the River Moss. The Warlord led a score of his best scouts to meet the boats. Concealed by the trees he hailed the unknown crew.

"Hail! Who passes through our waters?"

"Honest sailors, friend," came the answer. "D'ye plan on stoppin' us?"

"Aye, perhaps. I have fivescore scouts surrounding your little boats, so it would be wise to state your name and business, friend."

"Merely passin' through. Th'name's Cap'n Bloik o' the Blackhull. And yew are?"

Krigg let his jaw drop slightly. "Th'name's Skarliff Krigg, Warlord of the North -- brother."

.

Captain Bloik of the Blackhull. So, he had done well for himself. Skarliff sat with his brother at the horde camp while the crew was tended to hospitably -- for vermin. "My brother," he said as they clasped claws. "How has life treated you?"

"I 'ave me own ship, as ye know. I am a cap'n in th' fleet of Lord Raslor of Kortron Fortress. 'Tis in the south shores. Wot 'bout yew, Warlord o' th' North?"

"Aye, yes," Skarliff laughed. "I am now Skarliff Krigg, Warlord of all you see here. There are well over 500 soldiers at my command, as you can see."

"Skarliff what?" snorted Bloik. "Where'd th' 'Krigg' come from?"

He laughed again. "It is derived from an ancient language long dead, meaning 'to kill'. I felt it adequate to take on the title of slayer when I became a Warlord. And yourself? The last I remember you were headed out to sea to seek your fortunes."

"Aye," Bloik answered, "I was th' lookout on a slave ship. As fortunes 'ave it, I soon became me own cap'n."

"Yes, yes. I wouldn't expect any less from one of our blood. But come, what brings you so far north?"

The captain lowered his voice. "There be rumor of a fabled h'Abbey 'ereabouts, some ways east and south of us. I'm on a mission t' find some famous sword stowed away there an' bring it back to m'lord Raslor."

"Speak to me, brother," the Warlord purred. "I may be able to help you. Tell me, do your maps show a forest nearby?"

Bloik looked over the map of Mossflower and nodded his head. "Aye, th' river cuts through it north o' the Abbey. 'Ave you been there?"

"Very recently," Skarliff answered thoughtfully. "So, there was a village after all; an Abbey. What is this Abbey called?"

"Redwall, brother. Th' Abbey of Redwall. Very perilous for vermin, so I've 'eard."

"Well I haven't. In the meantime let us draw plans together to recover this sword for you, my brother. Perhaps I may have something to gain in this as well." Their voices lowered in conference as the brothers plotted out a plan to plunder the perilous priory.

.

Outside Skarliff Krigg's tent Drigsno and another guard stood watch as always. " 'E sure does a lot o' plannin' in there," the guard commented lazily.

"Shh!" said Drigsno. " 'E's a Warlord, that's wot 'e does, stoopid."

"Addle brain."

"Weaselguts."

"Ooh, I'm wounded fer life."