Chapter seven: Martin sets out
Dawn came over Noonvale, and Rose woke up in her tent. Martin wasn't there, she knew he had gone with the other Noonvale warriors. She walked over to Chrysanthemum's cradle and sat gazing at her sleeping daughter for a while, thinking about Martin. "I wouldn't want you to be a warrior, I've done it before, and it's not the life for a Noonvale maid." Rose said half to herself and half to her daughter. "But you're the daughter of a famous warrior, so you're bound to fight sometime. If you ever do, please take care of yourself and those around you, and never do something me and Martin wouldn't want you to do. Maybe someday you will also be a great warrior, like your father." A tear fell from Rose's cheek, and let out a shuddering sob. Then she stood and left the tent.
"Wait up, Martin old chap! A hare has eat t'keep up his energy, doncha know." A huffing and puffing Ballaw was jogging alongside Martin, who was walking at a steady, but energentic pace. Martin stifled a smile.
"You just had some damson crumble not long ago, Ballaw. If you eat anymore, there won't be enough for the rest of us. It's probably a long journey to Mossflower."
Chibb hopped along beside Martin. "Long, but not quite so long. Depends on what kind of journey you're used to."
"The Rosehip Players are used to long journeys, we've traveled many a mile." Rowanoak remarked.
Trefoil was walking next to Rowanoak, a spear over her shoulder. "Aye, so this shouldn't be a problem. Oi, Chibb, how many vermin do we have the pleasure of meeting?"
"Five hundred, more or less."
Martin pretended not to be stunned. "That's quite a lot, more than what that stoat Badrang had. Are they well armed?"
"Oh, yes, and well experienced. Maybe sometimes a bit reluctant to obey orders, but don't underestimate Kotir's hordes."
A young cheeky-looking hedgehog ambled up, grinning. "They should be no problem f'me, birdy. Friltip the Fierce, that's me!" The hedgehog brandished a small dagger in front of him. Martin plucked it from his paw.
"Now, Friltip, careful where you're waving that, somebeast could get hurt. And you're not fighting, you're staying where you're supposed to be, with the rest of the Players."
It looked like Rowanoak was about to pick him up, but then thought better of it. "We let you join the Players because your momma told us to take you, so keep to yourself and stay out of trouble!"
Ballaw muttered under his breath. "Stay out of trouble? Impossible, old gel, a blighter like him is as much trouble as an adder in your paw!"
Dawn came over Noonvale, and Rose woke up in her tent. Martin wasn't there, she knew he had gone with the other Noonvale warriors. She walked over to Chrysanthemum's cradle and sat gazing at her sleeping daughter for a while, thinking about Martin. "I wouldn't want you to be a warrior, I've done it before, and it's not the life for a Noonvale maid." Rose said half to herself and half to her daughter. "But you're the daughter of a famous warrior, so you're bound to fight sometime. If you ever do, please take care of yourself and those around you, and never do something me and Martin wouldn't want you to do. Maybe someday you will also be a great warrior, like your father." A tear fell from Rose's cheek, and let out a shuddering sob. Then she stood and left the tent.
"Wait up, Martin old chap! A hare has eat t'keep up his energy, doncha know." A huffing and puffing Ballaw was jogging alongside Martin, who was walking at a steady, but energentic pace. Martin stifled a smile.
"You just had some damson crumble not long ago, Ballaw. If you eat anymore, there won't be enough for the rest of us. It's probably a long journey to Mossflower."
Chibb hopped along beside Martin. "Long, but not quite so long. Depends on what kind of journey you're used to."
"The Rosehip Players are used to long journeys, we've traveled many a mile." Rowanoak remarked.
Trefoil was walking next to Rowanoak, a spear over her shoulder. "Aye, so this shouldn't be a problem. Oi, Chibb, how many vermin do we have the pleasure of meeting?"
"Five hundred, more or less."
Martin pretended not to be stunned. "That's quite a lot, more than what that stoat Badrang had. Are they well armed?"
"Oh, yes, and well experienced. Maybe sometimes a bit reluctant to obey orders, but don't underestimate Kotir's hordes."
A young cheeky-looking hedgehog ambled up, grinning. "They should be no problem f'me, birdy. Friltip the Fierce, that's me!" The hedgehog brandished a small dagger in front of him. Martin plucked it from his paw.
"Now, Friltip, careful where you're waving that, somebeast could get hurt. And you're not fighting, you're staying where you're supposed to be, with the rest of the Players."
It looked like Rowanoak was about to pick him up, but then thought better of it. "We let you join the Players because your momma told us to take you, so keep to yourself and stay out of trouble!"
Ballaw muttered under his breath. "Stay out of trouble? Impossible, old gel, a blighter like him is as much trouble as an adder in your paw!"