Undecided Allegiance
Chapter Four: A Conspiracy, A Decision
(A/N- Thanks to my reviewers. I hope that I answered all your questions, avlblu. Thanks for reading. Just to let you know, I will be introducing a not-so-new character in this chapter that eventually will play a rather important role.)
It was an hour before midnight when the horde stopped all fires and almost everyone retired to their tents. That evening was light, everyone talking about Cobain's little affair. As for the female whom was responsible for courting with Cobain, she was off hiding in her tent the whole day. The night was pleasantly cool, as with the last, and no meetings were called. All that was to take place was the death of Cobain.
Kneadon and Bluedusk stood outside of Cobain's tent, awaiting the other to say something first. Kneadon, feeling he was the more mature out of the two, called for the captain.
"Cobain," he said tentatively, his voice not very confident.
They first heard a long sigh, then a drunken voice. "What do you want?"
Bluedusk felt the responsibility to speak next. "Come outside. We need to talk to you," he replied, his voice containing less confidence than Kneadon's.
They could hear Cobain scoff and then hesitate. "What do you wanna talk with me for? I'm just a soldier, not an authority figure like you guys..."
Bluedusk rolled his eyes, frustrated. "We don't care about that! Get out here, now!" he ordered, his voice quiet yet intense.
They could hear some shuffling around coming from inside, then Cobain emerged, very sickly looking. His eyes were bloodshot and his fur was a mess, his tunic covered with various stains. It was plain pathetic.
"You guys...it was just once, I swear," he pleaded.
Kneadon sneered. "Can it and follow us!"
The two captains led Kneadon out into the woods around the camp. They walked for about an hour until they arrived near a stream, at the desired location.
Bluedusk turned to Cobain. "You listen to me, and listen well. We were given orders to kill you, but because we respect you too much, we decided against it, under these conditions. You must leave here, and fast. We never want to see you again. Don't even think of taking your revenge upon Joseph, do you understand?" the captain hissed, his voice not above a whisper out of his paranoia.
Kneadon smirked. "Yeah, under this condition too. Lord needs proof you're dead, so we need one of your claws."
Cobain's eyes widened to the size of a pine cone. He backed away, shaking his head. "No way you're cutting anything off me!" he exclaimed.
Bluedusk grabbed him by the scruff and forced him up to a tree. "Shut up!" he whispered intensely. He grabbed his dagger and held it up to Cobain's neck. "We're being very generous, Cobain! It's either your claw or your life, make up your mind, you fool!"
Cobain gritted his teeth. "Cut it, then!"
Bluedusk nodded to Kneadon, and Kneadon pulled a small knife from his belt. Cobain whimpered.
Bluedusk dropped his dagger, pinned him tighter against the tree, and placed his paw over his eyes and his other of his mouth. "Be quiet, Cobain," he whispered comfortingly. "It's your life, remember that."
Kneadon grabbed Cobain's paw and swiftly cut off the claw on the very end (you know, like the human's pinky?).
Muffled cries came from Cobain as Bluedusk hushed him. Being prepared ahead of time, Kneadon packed the cut with herbs and sealed with a dock leaf. It wasn't until this was done that Bluedusk took his paws from Cobain's eyes and mouth.
The claw was stored in the burlap sack that Kneadon carried along with him. The marlfox was smiling wickedly. "Always wanted to do that," he whispered menacingly.
"Go, Cobain, as far as you can away from here. I suggest you find some other horde, maybe south. If you ever come back, you will be the death of us," Bluedusk warned darkly.
Cobain nodded. "Thank you. I am grateful," he ended abruptly and ran off.
Kneadon and Bluedusk looked to eachother, confused. "That's not south," Kneadon said simply.
Naturi felt slightly strange and powerful as she held her javelin at the wall top. It was great to be a sentry. She scanned the area outside the abbey over and over again. The other sentries were some distance away from her, which she liked, she was always a solitary beast.
Her shift was until sun rise that night. This was the worst shift, that she was sure. That was why it was given to her.
Hours passed, and the job seemed less and less desirable. Nothing happened. None of the sentries spoke of anything. There was nothing to do, nothing to see. She was beginning to regret ever volunteering for the job.
The other sentries must have agreed, for they were all sound asleep.
She sat down and leaned against the side of the wall top, staring down at a clearing before her. Her eyes became harder and harder to keep open and she began to relax. Just before her eyes drifted shut, she saw movement.
She bolted upright and looked over the side, and a figure dashed back into the bushes. She was just about to wake the others when she decided against it. She decided to try and be a hero, and deal with it herself.
"I know you're there," she said simply, not speaking too loud, careful to not awake the other sentries.
A few seconds later, a ferret emerged into the clearing.
"You...you're a..." he murmured, trailing off.
Naturi's heart beat picked up, a ferret! She appreciated seeing someone like herself so much that she did not think twice about tossing that javelin towards him. It was a thrill to see him-to feel the same as someone again.
"What do you want?" she asked, trying to maintain her position of power.
The ferret looked concerned. "I have to tell you something-please let me in! It's important!"
Naturi reached a point of indecision. She looked around to the other sentries, making sure they were all asleep. She waited a few moments, sorting out the pros and cons of letting him in.
"Unarm yourself," she demanded imperiously.
The ferret threw a dagger, a sword, and a small knife to the ground at his right.
Naturi bit her lip in indecision as well as anticipation. Deciding to take advantage of this chance, she scuttled down from the wall top and met him. Noticing his bandaged paw, she decided to bring him into the infirmary.
As they walked up the wall top, she quietly advised him to be silent as they made their way past the sleeping sentries. Before they knew it, they were in the great hall, where the ferret began gawking at the tapestry and the sword.
"Come on!" Naturi whispered as she led him towards the infirmary, hoping that nobody would see her sneaking "vermin" into the abbey. She would be labeled as a "foolish traitor." She knew all too well what they would call her, and she would be cast out of Redwall forever.
They were in the infirmary, where Naturi perceived she had been lucky. Just to be safe, she scanned about the room before she let the ferret enter. No one was there.
She looked at the dock leaf and scoffed. "This is no way to care for a cut," she commented. She unwrapped to dock leaf, expecting a cut, but found no claw at all! She shivered.
"What happened?" she inquired.
The ferret, thinking quickly, replied. "A warlord cut it off."
Naturi paused. "Are you an exile?"
The ferret smiled and nodded.
As she washed the mud from his paw, she began conversation. "So, what's your name?" she inquired.
"Cobain," he answered, appreciating such care.
She nodded. "So...what did you want to tell me?"
He paused, making the final decision about what to tell her. "There's going to be an invasion."
Naturi narrowed her eyes and looked to him. "You mean...Khrushchev?" she asked, now becoming interested.
He nodded. "Pretty soon, expect it any day now!"
She turned to his paw as she finished bandaging up and sighed thoughtfully. It could be her chance to get away, but who was this beast? Was he credible? Was he a spy, or was he really an exile? She couldn't quite tell yet, though she could not say in truth that she cared.
She finished wrapping it up and quickly led him to her room, where she decided they would speak more in depth of this matter.
She withdrew from one of her desk drawers a flask of damson wine, and offered some to Cobain. He accepted.
He sat on a small wooden chair next to her desk, while she was seated on the edge of her bed.
"So...why did they make you leave?" she inquired curiously, trying to make him feel as comfortable as possible.
Stuck at this question, he paused. He didn't exactly want to tell her why, it was plain embarrassing! He decided to lie in this case. "I told him he was daft."
She raised her brow. "I'd say you deserve to be exiled."
Cobain could feel his face becoming hot. He shrugged.
Cobain decided that he would take his turn to ask questions. "So..." he began. "How do you know Khrushchev?"
Naturi hesitated. "You see...I was born into a horde that was at war with his...father...I believe...Nikita," she finished, hoping that he didn't find himself confused.
"Oh," Cobain said lightly. "Nikita croaked not too long ago. Son took over-Joseph."
Then, it seemed out of nowhere, there was a knock at the door.
"Naturi, why did you leave your shift early?" someone asked. It was Skipper.
Naturi signaled for Cobain to crawl under the bed, and he quickly obeyed. Naturi knew that if she ever was caught hiding "vermin" in the abbey, she would surely be forced to leave. She still had to leave all options open. "Um...I don't feel well, sir..." she explained, hoping that he would buy it.
"Are you alright? Do you need help?" Skipper inquired, concerned.
"Oh! No...I don't need help. I'm just really tired and my head hurts...just need some sleep. I'm sorry sir," she said, biting her lip, hoping he would just leave her alone after the short questionnaire.
"Can I come in?" he inquired, shocking Naturi.
No question could have scared her more at that point.
She knew that it would seem strange if she turned him down, but what if he found out about Cobain? She couldn't have it either way, she had to let him in.
"Come in," she replied, purposely making her voice feeble and frail sounding.
He opened the door gently and smiled. She smiled back, lying on her bed, wrapped in blankets.
"Listen," he began. "I'm sorry about lunch earlier today. It was very shallow of me to assume things like that about you..."
Each word of his apology made her stomach wrench. Little did he know that she had let someone into the abbey that he most definitely did not approve of.
"Just because you're a ferret doesn't mean that you're like them, and I didn't want you to feel like that's what we think..."
His words began to sound like a drone in the back round, her heart pounded, she hoped that he would not find out...
"I just don't want you to feel like you're different than the rest of us, just because of where you were born, I know you can't help it..."
"When will he stop?" she thought to herself, each word becoming more painfully irritating as the time passed.
"You're just like a part of the community here, and I don't want you to feel left out. I want you to have a more active role in Redwall defense if you like..."
That last sentence broke through the barrier in her mind. A more active role? Like what?
"I'll think about it," she murmured, not really conscious as to what she was saying.
Skipper smiled warmly. "I just wanted you to know those things. Come talk to me when you feel better and we'll discuss what you want to do," he said kindly.
She smiled. "Thanks, sir...well, I best go to sleep now, see you tomorrow..."
He nodded and departed. He couldn't have left soon enough.
The door shut and she locked it behind him.
Cobain emerged out from under the bed. "I think I would have died if I had to stay in there a second longer..." he sighed. "That's guys a real sap...just went on and on..."
Most abbey beasts would call that kind of speak disrespectful, and though Naturi appreciated it, she sort of presumed it the same way. She nodded.
Cobain bit his lip. "You have to tell him, since you're a part of defense now, about the invasion. You can't just hide me!"
Naturi twisted the blanket up in her paws. "I can't tell them! They'll make me leave, I will never be forgiven for bringing...you...into the abbey..."
Cobain sneered. "Hey! Are you aware that I am trying to help you? Think about what that guy said, it's not about species, its about who you are. I'm not loyal to him, he's going to attack! Please believe me!" he protested desperately.
Naturi nodded. "I'm not telling them in the middle of the night, mind you. I dunno...just...um...lay on the floor for tonight and we'll talk to them tomorrow..." she murmured, reaching a point of indecision. She blew out the candles and the two went to bed.
Meanwhile, Bluedusk and Kneadon returned from their "affair" and reported to Joseph. It was tense, Joseph seemed critical that night. The two began to worry.
Kneadon presented the claw to him.
Joseph looked at it, narrowing his eyes. "Why didn't you bring me his head?" he inquired critically.
The two looked to eachother, hearts pounding furiously. What to say? What if he didn't believe them, what would happen? Kneadon took the chance to explain. "You see, sir, his head would have been awful heavy and bloody..."
Joseph scoffed. "I don't believe you. You best take me to the body...tomorrow..." he muttered disapprovingly.
The two captains protested. "But sir, I don't remember where it is!"
"It was dark out!"
"Shut up! You will not change my mind. I want to see his body, and if you do not lead me to it, mark my words, I will kill you," he threatened. "I will not tolerate mutiny."
The two nodded, realizing that they were defeated.
"Get out!" he snapped, furiously. Apparently he had been tired, and luckily for the two captains, did not want to see the body that night.
As they walked back to their tent, they were afraid. Afraid of what Joseph would do to them.
"What are we going to do?" Bluedusk whispered, his voice shaking with fear.
Kneadon smiled reassuringly. "I have a plan."
It was Lord Maiken's birthday that day. Not a happy day. "Another year older," he thought to himself. Another year frailer, another year of deterioration. That was what it was. Aging. Deterioration of his regime.
If he could have one wish, it would be for his youth. His wounds healed slower, he tired faster, and his fur became moddled and thin. Arthritis had set in, therefore greatly limiting his sword-fighting ability. To be young again, to break so many barriers that his age had set before him. Even death was becoming real as he felt himself slip away and corrode into an old, feeble beast.
That night he spent alone, sipping from a flask of elderberry wine and staring out the window of his chamber, longing to be the way he was ten years before.
He began thinking back to that time. Losing the only war that he'd ever fought to Khrushchev. What kind of legacy would he hold? Would he be remembered as a loser? Would the records of his rule even be saved? These questions rung in his mind throughout the evening, mocking him, degenerating his confidence.
He had not even addressed in his mind the chance that there would be a revolt. He tried to ignore the subject matter, knowing that he would go crazy if he thought upon it too much.
How could he solve this problem, this problem of a disintegrating body and mind? If only he knew the answer...
(A/N- Well, hope that was interesting. You can kinda tell where this is going, I hope. Well, next chapter will even be funner to write!)
Chapter Four: A Conspiracy, A Decision
(A/N- Thanks to my reviewers. I hope that I answered all your questions, avlblu. Thanks for reading. Just to let you know, I will be introducing a not-so-new character in this chapter that eventually will play a rather important role.)
It was an hour before midnight when the horde stopped all fires and almost everyone retired to their tents. That evening was light, everyone talking about Cobain's little affair. As for the female whom was responsible for courting with Cobain, she was off hiding in her tent the whole day. The night was pleasantly cool, as with the last, and no meetings were called. All that was to take place was the death of Cobain.
Kneadon and Bluedusk stood outside of Cobain's tent, awaiting the other to say something first. Kneadon, feeling he was the more mature out of the two, called for the captain.
"Cobain," he said tentatively, his voice not very confident.
They first heard a long sigh, then a drunken voice. "What do you want?"
Bluedusk felt the responsibility to speak next. "Come outside. We need to talk to you," he replied, his voice containing less confidence than Kneadon's.
They could hear Cobain scoff and then hesitate. "What do you wanna talk with me for? I'm just a soldier, not an authority figure like you guys..."
Bluedusk rolled his eyes, frustrated. "We don't care about that! Get out here, now!" he ordered, his voice quiet yet intense.
They could hear some shuffling around coming from inside, then Cobain emerged, very sickly looking. His eyes were bloodshot and his fur was a mess, his tunic covered with various stains. It was plain pathetic.
"You guys...it was just once, I swear," he pleaded.
Kneadon sneered. "Can it and follow us!"
The two captains led Kneadon out into the woods around the camp. They walked for about an hour until they arrived near a stream, at the desired location.
Bluedusk turned to Cobain. "You listen to me, and listen well. We were given orders to kill you, but because we respect you too much, we decided against it, under these conditions. You must leave here, and fast. We never want to see you again. Don't even think of taking your revenge upon Joseph, do you understand?" the captain hissed, his voice not above a whisper out of his paranoia.
Kneadon smirked. "Yeah, under this condition too. Lord needs proof you're dead, so we need one of your claws."
Cobain's eyes widened to the size of a pine cone. He backed away, shaking his head. "No way you're cutting anything off me!" he exclaimed.
Bluedusk grabbed him by the scruff and forced him up to a tree. "Shut up!" he whispered intensely. He grabbed his dagger and held it up to Cobain's neck. "We're being very generous, Cobain! It's either your claw or your life, make up your mind, you fool!"
Cobain gritted his teeth. "Cut it, then!"
Bluedusk nodded to Kneadon, and Kneadon pulled a small knife from his belt. Cobain whimpered.
Bluedusk dropped his dagger, pinned him tighter against the tree, and placed his paw over his eyes and his other of his mouth. "Be quiet, Cobain," he whispered comfortingly. "It's your life, remember that."
Kneadon grabbed Cobain's paw and swiftly cut off the claw on the very end (you know, like the human's pinky?).
Muffled cries came from Cobain as Bluedusk hushed him. Being prepared ahead of time, Kneadon packed the cut with herbs and sealed with a dock leaf. It wasn't until this was done that Bluedusk took his paws from Cobain's eyes and mouth.
The claw was stored in the burlap sack that Kneadon carried along with him. The marlfox was smiling wickedly. "Always wanted to do that," he whispered menacingly.
"Go, Cobain, as far as you can away from here. I suggest you find some other horde, maybe south. If you ever come back, you will be the death of us," Bluedusk warned darkly.
Cobain nodded. "Thank you. I am grateful," he ended abruptly and ran off.
Kneadon and Bluedusk looked to eachother, confused. "That's not south," Kneadon said simply.
Naturi felt slightly strange and powerful as she held her javelin at the wall top. It was great to be a sentry. She scanned the area outside the abbey over and over again. The other sentries were some distance away from her, which she liked, she was always a solitary beast.
Her shift was until sun rise that night. This was the worst shift, that she was sure. That was why it was given to her.
Hours passed, and the job seemed less and less desirable. Nothing happened. None of the sentries spoke of anything. There was nothing to do, nothing to see. She was beginning to regret ever volunteering for the job.
The other sentries must have agreed, for they were all sound asleep.
She sat down and leaned against the side of the wall top, staring down at a clearing before her. Her eyes became harder and harder to keep open and she began to relax. Just before her eyes drifted shut, she saw movement.
She bolted upright and looked over the side, and a figure dashed back into the bushes. She was just about to wake the others when she decided against it. She decided to try and be a hero, and deal with it herself.
"I know you're there," she said simply, not speaking too loud, careful to not awake the other sentries.
A few seconds later, a ferret emerged into the clearing.
"You...you're a..." he murmured, trailing off.
Naturi's heart beat picked up, a ferret! She appreciated seeing someone like herself so much that she did not think twice about tossing that javelin towards him. It was a thrill to see him-to feel the same as someone again.
"What do you want?" she asked, trying to maintain her position of power.
The ferret looked concerned. "I have to tell you something-please let me in! It's important!"
Naturi reached a point of indecision. She looked around to the other sentries, making sure they were all asleep. She waited a few moments, sorting out the pros and cons of letting him in.
"Unarm yourself," she demanded imperiously.
The ferret threw a dagger, a sword, and a small knife to the ground at his right.
Naturi bit her lip in indecision as well as anticipation. Deciding to take advantage of this chance, she scuttled down from the wall top and met him. Noticing his bandaged paw, she decided to bring him into the infirmary.
As they walked up the wall top, she quietly advised him to be silent as they made their way past the sleeping sentries. Before they knew it, they were in the great hall, where the ferret began gawking at the tapestry and the sword.
"Come on!" Naturi whispered as she led him towards the infirmary, hoping that nobody would see her sneaking "vermin" into the abbey. She would be labeled as a "foolish traitor." She knew all too well what they would call her, and she would be cast out of Redwall forever.
They were in the infirmary, where Naturi perceived she had been lucky. Just to be safe, she scanned about the room before she let the ferret enter. No one was there.
She looked at the dock leaf and scoffed. "This is no way to care for a cut," she commented. She unwrapped to dock leaf, expecting a cut, but found no claw at all! She shivered.
"What happened?" she inquired.
The ferret, thinking quickly, replied. "A warlord cut it off."
Naturi paused. "Are you an exile?"
The ferret smiled and nodded.
As she washed the mud from his paw, she began conversation. "So, what's your name?" she inquired.
"Cobain," he answered, appreciating such care.
She nodded. "So...what did you want to tell me?"
He paused, making the final decision about what to tell her. "There's going to be an invasion."
Naturi narrowed her eyes and looked to him. "You mean...Khrushchev?" she asked, now becoming interested.
He nodded. "Pretty soon, expect it any day now!"
She turned to his paw as she finished bandaging up and sighed thoughtfully. It could be her chance to get away, but who was this beast? Was he credible? Was he a spy, or was he really an exile? She couldn't quite tell yet, though she could not say in truth that she cared.
She finished wrapping it up and quickly led him to her room, where she decided they would speak more in depth of this matter.
She withdrew from one of her desk drawers a flask of damson wine, and offered some to Cobain. He accepted.
He sat on a small wooden chair next to her desk, while she was seated on the edge of her bed.
"So...why did they make you leave?" she inquired curiously, trying to make him feel as comfortable as possible.
Stuck at this question, he paused. He didn't exactly want to tell her why, it was plain embarrassing! He decided to lie in this case. "I told him he was daft."
She raised her brow. "I'd say you deserve to be exiled."
Cobain could feel his face becoming hot. He shrugged.
Cobain decided that he would take his turn to ask questions. "So..." he began. "How do you know Khrushchev?"
Naturi hesitated. "You see...I was born into a horde that was at war with his...father...I believe...Nikita," she finished, hoping that he didn't find himself confused.
"Oh," Cobain said lightly. "Nikita croaked not too long ago. Son took over-Joseph."
Then, it seemed out of nowhere, there was a knock at the door.
"Naturi, why did you leave your shift early?" someone asked. It was Skipper.
Naturi signaled for Cobain to crawl under the bed, and he quickly obeyed. Naturi knew that if she ever was caught hiding "vermin" in the abbey, she would surely be forced to leave. She still had to leave all options open. "Um...I don't feel well, sir..." she explained, hoping that he would buy it.
"Are you alright? Do you need help?" Skipper inquired, concerned.
"Oh! No...I don't need help. I'm just really tired and my head hurts...just need some sleep. I'm sorry sir," she said, biting her lip, hoping he would just leave her alone after the short questionnaire.
"Can I come in?" he inquired, shocking Naturi.
No question could have scared her more at that point.
She knew that it would seem strange if she turned him down, but what if he found out about Cobain? She couldn't have it either way, she had to let him in.
"Come in," she replied, purposely making her voice feeble and frail sounding.
He opened the door gently and smiled. She smiled back, lying on her bed, wrapped in blankets.
"Listen," he began. "I'm sorry about lunch earlier today. It was very shallow of me to assume things like that about you..."
Each word of his apology made her stomach wrench. Little did he know that she had let someone into the abbey that he most definitely did not approve of.
"Just because you're a ferret doesn't mean that you're like them, and I didn't want you to feel like that's what we think..."
His words began to sound like a drone in the back round, her heart pounded, she hoped that he would not find out...
"I just don't want you to feel like you're different than the rest of us, just because of where you were born, I know you can't help it..."
"When will he stop?" she thought to herself, each word becoming more painfully irritating as the time passed.
"You're just like a part of the community here, and I don't want you to feel left out. I want you to have a more active role in Redwall defense if you like..."
That last sentence broke through the barrier in her mind. A more active role? Like what?
"I'll think about it," she murmured, not really conscious as to what she was saying.
Skipper smiled warmly. "I just wanted you to know those things. Come talk to me when you feel better and we'll discuss what you want to do," he said kindly.
She smiled. "Thanks, sir...well, I best go to sleep now, see you tomorrow..."
He nodded and departed. He couldn't have left soon enough.
The door shut and she locked it behind him.
Cobain emerged out from under the bed. "I think I would have died if I had to stay in there a second longer..." he sighed. "That's guys a real sap...just went on and on..."
Most abbey beasts would call that kind of speak disrespectful, and though Naturi appreciated it, she sort of presumed it the same way. She nodded.
Cobain bit his lip. "You have to tell him, since you're a part of defense now, about the invasion. You can't just hide me!"
Naturi twisted the blanket up in her paws. "I can't tell them! They'll make me leave, I will never be forgiven for bringing...you...into the abbey..."
Cobain sneered. "Hey! Are you aware that I am trying to help you? Think about what that guy said, it's not about species, its about who you are. I'm not loyal to him, he's going to attack! Please believe me!" he protested desperately.
Naturi nodded. "I'm not telling them in the middle of the night, mind you. I dunno...just...um...lay on the floor for tonight and we'll talk to them tomorrow..." she murmured, reaching a point of indecision. She blew out the candles and the two went to bed.
Meanwhile, Bluedusk and Kneadon returned from their "affair" and reported to Joseph. It was tense, Joseph seemed critical that night. The two began to worry.
Kneadon presented the claw to him.
Joseph looked at it, narrowing his eyes. "Why didn't you bring me his head?" he inquired critically.
The two looked to eachother, hearts pounding furiously. What to say? What if he didn't believe them, what would happen? Kneadon took the chance to explain. "You see, sir, his head would have been awful heavy and bloody..."
Joseph scoffed. "I don't believe you. You best take me to the body...tomorrow..." he muttered disapprovingly.
The two captains protested. "But sir, I don't remember where it is!"
"It was dark out!"
"Shut up! You will not change my mind. I want to see his body, and if you do not lead me to it, mark my words, I will kill you," he threatened. "I will not tolerate mutiny."
The two nodded, realizing that they were defeated.
"Get out!" he snapped, furiously. Apparently he had been tired, and luckily for the two captains, did not want to see the body that night.
As they walked back to their tent, they were afraid. Afraid of what Joseph would do to them.
"What are we going to do?" Bluedusk whispered, his voice shaking with fear.
Kneadon smiled reassuringly. "I have a plan."
It was Lord Maiken's birthday that day. Not a happy day. "Another year older," he thought to himself. Another year frailer, another year of deterioration. That was what it was. Aging. Deterioration of his regime.
If he could have one wish, it would be for his youth. His wounds healed slower, he tired faster, and his fur became moddled and thin. Arthritis had set in, therefore greatly limiting his sword-fighting ability. To be young again, to break so many barriers that his age had set before him. Even death was becoming real as he felt himself slip away and corrode into an old, feeble beast.
That night he spent alone, sipping from a flask of elderberry wine and staring out the window of his chamber, longing to be the way he was ten years before.
He began thinking back to that time. Losing the only war that he'd ever fought to Khrushchev. What kind of legacy would he hold? Would he be remembered as a loser? Would the records of his rule even be saved? These questions rung in his mind throughout the evening, mocking him, degenerating his confidence.
He had not even addressed in his mind the chance that there would be a revolt. He tried to ignore the subject matter, knowing that he would go crazy if he thought upon it too much.
How could he solve this problem, this problem of a disintegrating body and mind? If only he knew the answer...
(A/N- Well, hope that was interesting. You can kinda tell where this is going, I hope. Well, next chapter will even be funner to write!)