Chapter 3

The rebellious light brown weasel continued to sleep peacefully when he dozed off after the lashings that had assailed and scarred his back. His outward appearance betrayed no emotion, but in his own mind he relived the dream he had been having before Aeno had rudely awakened him. Martin did not reappear to console or comfort him, but there was still the tapestry hanging languidly on the wall with the sword perched on its hinges next to it.

Come on, Inas. What are you waiting for?

The young weasel shivered in the bright light of the full moon, which still shined in through the window. It never moved from where it hung in the east in the dream world, giving the atmosphere a surreal feel. Inas tensed as he a felt creepy tingle run up his back while he stared at the sword as it gleamed with the reflection of the moon's white light. It flashed again, pulsing as though it were a living being with a heart.

Here I am, Inas. All you need to do is take me off the wall.

The words echoed through the corridors, letting the Great Hall of Redwall amplify them before they were sucked into Inas. Before they became apart of Inas. The weasel stood in front of the sword entranced by it, taking unconscious baby steps toward the beautiful, calling object. All he was aware of was the sword as it continued its siren song.

Unknowingly, Inas' paw began reaching up toward the weapons. Ready to take it off its hinges and use it for what it was for; fighting. For justice! Justice needed to be implemented on those squirrels and with this sword he would have the means to do it; he would be one to finally strike fear in their hearts. 'Those squirrels must die,' Inas only smiled serenely at the prospect of vengeance being done on Trat and Aeno.

His widened suddenly and he managed to wrench his paw back from the sword with an effort as it continued to call him and pulse. Inas could only stare in shock and fear at the sword thinking, 'I'm stealing the sword from the Redwallers! They have not done me any wrong! They are only weary because of the evil my kind have shown. Do they know different?'

Suddenly, a voice rang down the halls, and Inas could swear it was his own, 'Leave the Redwallers alone! You have yet to prove that you are a weasel with a behavior change that differs from his species. Leave the Redwallers alone!'

'Trat, Aeno, Trat, Aeno,' Inas began thinking to himself as he agreed with his subconscious voice. The Redwallers were going to have their suspicions proved, though, when he stole the sword from them. Just the thought of stealing made Inas' insides curdle in apprehension and guilt. Martin was going to make him steal the sword, he couldn't change that, but would the Redwallers realize it was Martin's will directing his paw? Somehow the weasel felt that he was on his own in that part.

'Wake up, Inas,' that subconscious voice screamed at him, and he opened his eyes. Though the lids were still heavy with sleep and his eyes still saw the dream world, the real world soon came into focus and he noticed Trat bending over him ready to violently shake him.

Trat didn't appear to be in a very teasing mood, in fact he looked like he needed more sleep and had woken up much earlier than he really wanted to be. Inas nearly allowed a sneer to cross his visage, but contained it within himself. He'd always had to get up early, but Trat was allowed the privilege of sleeping late, 'That'll be your downfall one day, Trat.'

The young squirrel jumped when he saw Inas' eyes open suddenly and he stepped back, but composed himself. "Get up, slave! Father wants you packed in five minutes, no excuses; we're visiting Redwall," With a violent swish of his tail, Trat walked off, already bearing a pack on his shoulders with a few personal items he wanted to take for the visit.

Inas could only sit there for a moment. The memory, the dream, of the sword calling to him arose in his mind and he could feel it pulse even stronger though he could not see it. Snapping out of his trance, Inas leapt to his paws, straightened up his bed, ate a hurried breakfast, strapped on his belt knife, and ran outside to make it within the five minute period. He needed time to think and being late for Aeno's strict curfew would prevent him from having his privacy.

Upon stepping out the door, Inas caught the blue eyes of Aeno and the squirrel clenched his jaw truculently on eye contact. For one tense moment that spanned only a few seconds, neither weasel or squirrel admitted their weakness to each other. Then they both seemed to shake off the rebellious or dominant feelings they had toward one another.

"Boy, we'll be at Redwall for five days. If we leave and you remember you forgot something, then tough. We will not head back," Biting the word 'tough' as Aeno spoke, the squirrel then began striding across the open fields of his property North to the forest. Trat jogged after him trying to keep pace, but Inas only took long strides. Walking in the back a little behind the squirrels left him time alone.

As they walked, Inas thought about the sword. It could not and would not leave his mind alone. The weasel smiled a bittersweet one and couldn't help but think, 'Is Martin trying to drive me insane with this sword?' It seemed a likely possibility, but considering his current situation amidst two devious and obviously evil squirrels, he truly did feel as if Martin couldn't stand their betrayal. Their betrayal to him, to Martin, and to Redwall.

Inas' solitude was short-lived, though as Trat adjusted his pace until he was walking next to weasel. The squirrel's bright blue eyes were alight with mischief and a friendly smile swathed his face. He nudged Inas in the ribs to bring the weasel back to reality from his dark thoughts; when he saw the weasel's black eyes look at him, he said, "I heard from father that you rebelled last night. I heard screaming and I thought a beast was dying with the cracks of those whips, but then I figured it was just my little brother Inas getting whipped."

Inas stayed broodingly and moodily silent as Trat talked, his eyes narrowing more furious with each word that was spoken. He had not screamed; he hadn't screamed in a long time. Sometimes the weasel wondered if his "brother" were delusional with all the things that he made up, yet still coincided with the event.

The weasel sighed and rolled his eyes up to his head as he clicked his teeth in frustration. He wanted to be alone! In a voice heavy with annoyance, Inas responded, "What do you want, brother?"

"Oh, come on, Inas. We both know that my dad is going to assign me to follow you every which way. You better stay out of trouble, slave," Trat laughed aloud to himself as he reprimanded, then increased his walking speed and caught up with his father.

Inas stared after him with narrowed eyes and thought, 'Objective one: Dump or lose Trat upon arriving at Redwall.' The weasel had no doubt, even before the sardonic laugh, that Trat would somehow get him in trouble. The weasel went on to think of what he was going to do next and found it easy to think up. 'Latch onto the Recorder to be debriefed about the history of Redwall and to keep out of trouble. It's the time, Inas, show them who you really are!'

From there, Inas tried to plan his next step, but thought it fruitless. The stealing of the sword, killing Aeno and Trat would really depend on the events that happen. And how much the dream would push and pull at him, or whether the sword called to him very strongly. Inas didn't like not knowing what he would do next--he needed a set plan for his mindset--but he knew he had to adapt to future events. Adapt or die.

And all too soon for Inas' liking, the magnificent and colossal building of Redwall loomed in front of them, which could be seen over the thirty foot red stone walls built to keep invaders out. Invaders like Issvor. Though Inas didn't know any specifics of Redwall history, he shuddered over the fact that he knew countless vermin armies had lay siege to Redwall and had been defeated.

Trat grinned widely and ran up to the wall where he brought his head back and ululated quickly bringing his paw to his mouth to make a two different sounds. Then he said, "Ahoy, Redwall, there be danger afoot! Aeno the warrior, and his evil sons have come to pay a visit to ye!" A rather young mouse with spectacles perched on his nose who was leaning on the parapet with his elbow down, and his arm raised vertically so the paw support his face. To fit his apparent lethargic and rather exasperated mood.

"Yes, Trat, we can see you're there. Hold a minute." The mouse disappeared and they could hear nothing for a moment. Then with the creak of the wooden timbers and the squeak of metal hinges in need of oil, the Badger Mother opened the door with the mouse they'd just seen in tow. Mother Morn stepped out and smiled charmingly down at Trat and then embraced him in a gentle hug.

Next she walked over to Aeno who had been standing a little farther back and shook his paw, then said, "It's good to see you two again. We've been worried about you since we've had no rain. Your corn crops must not be very good at all!"

"Indeed they weren't Mother Morn," Aeno agreed with a keen and weary smile as he shook paws with her, "We've got nothing beyond rags. I hope you or the Abbess don't mind our staying here for a few days."

"Of course not, Warrior, we will gladly accommodate you and your sons," She grinned happily at the squirrel. The last to receive her greeting was of course Inas Reiz.

She did not hug him like Trat, but rather regarded him seriously, then extended her paw to shake, too. Inas blinked in astonishment at first, then gave her his paw, shook in a mature manner, and smiled politely at her. The change in his personality from secluded to mature and happily responsive delighted her.

"Well, Inas, it seems to me as if you've grown quite a bit over the summer. And I don't mean by your height. You seem healthier if you please and more mature than the rascal I remembered tending to just a year ago. It's good to see you as well."

Inas blinked in an astonished manner at first, seeming to disbelieve what he was hearing. While Mother Morn had been nice, she had not complimented on his behavior--refrained from mentioning it in fact--and always interested in just how he would grow up. When he'd first arrived at Redwall, Mother Morn had tried to convince Aeno that he should come to Redwall with Trat to learn how to read, write, speak, and behave. Aeno had only shaken his head and made an excuse, "Oh, I know they both need it, but I can try to teach him in my spare time. I know they both need to learn, but I also need an extra set of paws around the cottage. The best yield for my harvest's are in the spring and fall."

None of the Redwallers had treated him bad at all, but he was always in trouble and that seemed to hold their minds to the fact that he would definitely grow up to be a miscreant. They had appealed to Aeno numerous times so that they might have a better chance to change the weasel, but the squirrel still stubbornly held out that he was teaching Inas. So far the weasel had learned to speak and behave, but reading and writing were beyond him.

He finally managed to regain his words and had realized that he had been staring at her with his mouth open for sometime. He flinched at the thought of it, and bowed his head, deeply embarrassed and said, "Thank you, Mother. Your kind words mean much to me. Also, thank you for giving me shelter. I'm also--"

"Enough, you do not need to apologize for your lapse. Now come, come, you look hungry! All of you do; please, you've made it in time for lunch," Mother Morn had put her paw on Inas' shoulder and guided him to the door. She picked up Aeno as she went and led both of them in.

Aeno joked with her, "Ah, lunch. We're right on time. Just as we intended."

"You mischievous warriors, you. Well, your company shall not be denied need I repeat myself," Inas allowed himself an amused chuckle that seemed to increase the smile on the badger's face. As he walked past, Brother Alds sniffed disapprovingly. For a moment Inas shifted uncomfortably believing he was the cause of the culprit. And in a way he was; his belt knife was still sheathed in the custom dark brown leather sheath.

Inas paled and began to take it off his belt muttering embarrassed apologies and berating himself so severely that later he thought he'd have mental scarring from all the mental kicks he gave his brain. Mother Morn stopped him, however, when she placed a paw on his, halting his action, "There is no need to remove the knife, Inas. You may keep it with you during your stay."

'What?! Did she just let me keep my knife? Why?' She had mentioned to him of his maturing. And that proposed a possibility in his mind that could not be put away, maybe she and the more authoritative creatures of Redwall had decided that upon his visit with his squirrel family they would give him a chance to keep the knife. Maybe they thought that he was old enough to be trusted, he'd after all been with woodlanders for so long. Somehow, Inas was sure that was the case, and he bowed again to the Mother. "Thank you, Mother, for your trust."

Inas felt oddly serene as he interacted with her and wasn't even deterred at the pensive and uncomfortable look Brother Ads had on his face. After Morn had mentioned it, Inas felt a certain immense and contained pride at her mention of his maturity. He reveled in this new sense of awareness and politeness that seemed so natural now. Had he finally cleansed his blood of the evil that seems to curse his species? Somehow, realizing the thoughts of his consciousness, he knew that question to be true.

Lunch was actually an enjoyable affair for the weasel. He did not participate in conversations much, just preferred to listen and eat his first meal since… Since yesterday afternoon. After gulping down half of his water the weasel spied a powder-sugar frosted cake baked with raspberry and blueberry juice oozing down the sides of it, but it was next to Trat's dish.

Inas hesitated asking for it, believing Trat might pin another accident on him but dug up the courage and said, "Trat, would you please pass me that Berry cake?"

The squirrel hesitated a moment as his eyes flicked to the pastry and then met Inas'. He shivered as he recognized the angry light of jealously reflecting in those blue eyes of the squirrel's. Inas had been treated better and thought more mature than Trat so far, which seemed to mock and irritate his adopted brother. He was amongst Redwallers though--surrounded by them--so he only nodded and stiffly gripped the plate and reached over the table to the weasel.

Inas smiled gratefully, hoping not to snap anymore nerves in Trat and nodded his head and said, "Thank you, brother."

Trat stared at him, his blue eyes hard sapphires that seemed to burn with an inner fire of their own, but he nodded politely and replied, "You are welcome, Inas." At Redwall bad manners never went unnoticed. And since a bad mood seemed to be brewing in Trat's eyes--there was practically lightening flying from them!--Inas made a mental note to avoid the squirrel for the rest of the afternoon. Despite the fact they were in Redwall, he knew Trat would make sure he got his comeuppance in some subtle way or another.

As soon as the first two beasts started leaving the table, Inas abandoned his own food and cleared it away. Putting his dish in the trolley that carried a tub of water, then proceeded to pick out Recorder Alds from the crowd. Though still a mouse like all the other ones there, no other one would carry a book to the table for some reading while he ate. Finding that mouse was no difficult feat, mostly because the Recorder was right behind him in putting away his dishes.

Inas put a gentle paw on the brown robe of elder after he'd put his dish away. Being nearly a foot taller than the relatively young mouse, Inas did his best not to intimidate him and that included smiling without showing his teeth, "Excuse me, Recorder Alds, but may I have a word with you?"

He allowed the mouse to get control of himself, which included regulating his brother after he had felt the mouse jump in fright, "Oh, of course, young Inas. Whew, you gave me a turn when you put your paw on my shoulder like that. Let's go into the shade."

Inas complied with a bigger smile and gently escorted the mouse under the shade of the huge apple tree that stood next to the beautiful blue pond. The weasel hadn't noticed how scorching the sun really was until he was in the shade, then he sighed with contentment, "Ah, good idea, Brother Alds. Now, to get to the point, I was wondering if you could teach me the history of Redwall. I know only of a few wars such as Cluny the Scourge and Ferahgo the Assasin. I've also her snippets of our hero and Redwall's founder Martin the Warrior, but nothing more. Would you mind educating me this afternoon?"

Inas grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head as he shifted uncomfortably. He knew he was asking a lot of the brother as the weasel probably figured he might have a list of chores that needed to be taken care. But Alds only frowned skeptically and rolled his eyes up to the trees as though he were considering what needed to be done, then he shook his head and said, "I have nothing better to do, Inas. Would you like to help me carry some scrolls out here to teach you. I'll need to refer to them once in a while to remember just what happened when; Redwall's history is a lengthy one."

The weasel grinned fully now, hoping it didn't appear ferocious on his face and he nodded rapidly, "Thank you, Brother, I really appreciate you taking time out of your day!"

The mouse only waved away the merit, "Oh no, don't thank me. Now, let's get along and dig out some of those scrolls. Dearie me, I may have to give you one of my clean handkerchiefs; I don't dust among the scrolls often."

Inas shook his head in amusement as the Recorder said this and both set out to his Gatehouse. Indeed, Inas had needed a cloth to bind around his mouth, otherwise he would've been in a constant coughing fit as he tried to unclog his throat and lungs. Being young and strong, Inas was able to take great heaps of the paper outside and was quick in doing so.

However, the effort put into carefully sorting and carrying out the scrolls was worth it as Brother Alds dug into the pile and picked out parchments he would teach. Inas found a comfortable spot sitting against the apple tree cross-legged and waited for the Recorder to start the lesson.

"Ahem! Ah, yes… Let's start at the beginning when Redwall wasn't even built. Before Martin was even born, this is the history of Lord Brocktree who established the Long Patrol…" Brother Alds began as he pushed his specs up his nose, then began telling the facts of what had happened then. The weasel listened intently and smiled inside; this was the best afternoon he had lived for as far as he could remember.