Chapter 6

Throughout the rest of the day Fayal and Inas traveled south at a jog looking around in the trees for Redwallers or foes hoping to jump them. Both seemed to have unlimited amounts of stamina as they ran. Inas was used to tortures of his own body and still felt very relaxed even as his breath came in harsh gasps. Fayal seemed to have a relentless will that refused to allow her to slow down or damage her pride in any way, but she was also breathing heavily.

Inas began to relax a little as he neared the evening hours of the day as he saw no hostile signs of Redwallers. The mouse was also beginning to lag and stumble more as both tried to pick their way through the trees; Inas couldn't deny his own exhaustion either as he failed to lift his paw high enough to step over a root and stumbled. He groaned when he hit the soft grass and he tried to remain awake to get up, but it was of no avail. He managed to gasp out some sentences to Fayal who'd stopped and was leaning against a tree, breathing hard, "I think… We should stop here for…. The night. We're jus'…too tired to carry on."

Fayal only nodded in agreement as she tried to regain her breath, her legs shaking visibly from the exertion of running for so long. Fear had given them fuel earlier on, but now that there seemed to be no threat, their strength had faded. Now it seemed a fruitless, foolish task when they didn't meet any beast.

The pair only bothered setting up Fayal's blanket roll, rather than a tent to shelter them from the rain and only broke out dry food for the reasons of exhaustion and the fear of a signal from a fire. In spite of himself, Inas agreed to take up first watch and wake Fayal when he thought it was midnight. Settling himself to lean against a tree, he kept his eyes open. Quiet fell over the forest, a soothing quiet, and Inas began to relax a little when Fayal's voice spoke to him in the dark.

"Inas, why do you think Martin gave the sword to you?"

The light brown weasel shifted uncomfortably for a moment. He wasn't really sure why the warrior mouse had come to him of all creatures. Inas only said what he knew to be true, "Well… I'm not really sure. But it is said that if the Abbey is ever in danger, then Martin will call upon a creature to wield his sword for him."

Even in the darkening night, Inas could see her body stiffen as though something had offended or occurred to her. He waited patiently for her to say something, believing that she was probably piecing facts together in her head. Hesitantly, Fayal said, "Inas… I think that's the reason why Martin called you. You were a beast in trouble."

Inas frowned, though and shook his head, "Martin wouldn't call me just because I'm in trouble. It would take more beasts for him to give me the sword because Redwall isn't about the individual. It's about the Abbey as a home and the creatures as one."

"But… Inas, creatures would've discovered later what Aeno had done to you and factions might arise within the Abbey. They are supposed to be a peace-loving society, but I'm sure many would love to see their enemies kept on such a short leash and taught a moral lesson. Others, also, would not like it. The Abbey could've been divided over you, Inas."

'It makes sense.' It was the first thought that rolled through the weasel's head as he stared at Fayal's back. But the Abbey becoming divided over him? It made him uncomfortable at how much the Redwallers would have to care about the weasel to break into factions over him. Inas leaned back against the tree trunk to stare up at the foliage of Mossflower's giant trees.

Rain spattered his face as he continued to study, then he was reminded of his duty when he heard an owl call out. Completely contrasting to Fayal--who'd already fallen asleep--Inas could feel himself coming awake. Suddenly, his senses were as sharp as they would have been with a full night's rest. His eyes could see more, his ears could hear leaves several hundred yards away sway in the occasional warm breezes, and the fur on the back of his neck was standing on end.

Trouble, Inas, be ready.

Cursing under his breath at the thought of an attack now that they were resting, Inas readied his sword and carefully reached out with his free paw to gently shake Fayal awake. "We've got trouble, friend." She only confirmed her understanding when she reached out to grab her sword from where it lay in front of her, then closed her eyes into a pretend sleep.

The weasel had tensed his body and was now peering into the darkness, taking full control of his senses. Still, there was nothing. It was the sudden loud cacophony of the leaves being stirred above him that warned Inas of an attack. He rolled forward, ignoring the pain that came with rolling on the scabbard of Martin's sword, then leapt up and unsheathed it in a flash, facing his adversary.

A squirrel with blue eyes was crouched with a knife in paw, glaring with a mixture of hate and malice in his eyes. The fur on the back of Inas' neck stood on end and he peeled back his black lips to growl. For a moment, both squirrel and weasel could just stand there, poised to attack, but staring at each other. Then with an enraged yell, Trat leapt forward and began jabbing in at the weasel's stomach and slashing at his arms. The weasel hopped back and managed to save his army, then roared a great battle cry into the night.

"Redwall!!!!!!"

It had burst from his lips before he realized it, and feeling strength surge through him, swiped the sword at Trat with the flat of his blade and sent the squirrel's knife flying with such force that it stuck point first into the tree Inas had just been laying against. The weasel pointed the sword at his throat, never taking his eyes off of him, but rather tuning into the skirmish that Fayal was currently in with an otter.

"Sook!!!!!!!!!!"

With a furious shout, Fayal also disarmed her attacker with her sword, cutting his double-pointed spear in half and backed him up into a tree. The otter glared at her peevishly, then looked at Trat, "'Twas a mouse, Trat. I'm not use to battlin' it out wid a mouse."

Trat nodded to the otter, but never took his eyes from Inas, and said, "It's okay, Brisbane. Looks like he's managed to brainwash a mouse into believing he's an innocent, good vermin." Inas' stare remained level after the comment, but sparks seemed to be flying from Fayal's gray eyes.

"But he is innocent! Open your eyes and try to see him for who he is, not what," Fayal growled, her beginning to get the better of her.

Brisbane an otter with a scarf wrapped around his head and wearing a brown jerkin, shook his head somberly at the mouse, "That weasel there killed a Redwaller. Murdered 'im in cold blood 'ee did. Por Aeno ne'er 'ad a chance."

Fayal seemed to be taking the initiative of defending Inas and completely forestalled his response by talking before him. "The squirrel deserved no more than what was coming to him. Treating vermin like slaves is not the way to act vengeance upon them if they've done harm to you! And especially if they haven't!"

"That squirrel was my FATHER!!!!!!" Trat ducked under Martin's blade and crouched to lunge at Fayal. Inas acted quickly though, and just as the squirrel sprung from the ground, he dealt Trat a hefty blow to back of his head which sent him rolling head over heels. Brisbane turned to stare in shock at the limp form of his friend, then Fayal laid him low with the flat of her own blade against the back of his head.

"Come on, Inas, let's tie them up," Fayal grumbled, taking rope out of her pack that she had been carrying for emergencies. Inas situated the two woodlanders back to back so that they would have more freedom of movement when tied and could eventually free themselves. Fayal gave him one end of the rope and began wrapping the pair up, not being gentle at all.

For a few moments, there was silence with only the occasional mutter of the fiery mouse as she tried to make the rope not too tight. Inas studied the piece of rope he was holding for the mouse, then said, "Fayal, I really appreciate all that you're doing for me. I never anticipated kindness from a woodlander. It's nice… To finally have a friend that really seems to care about me."

As Fayal finished tying the knot, she sighed and looked up at Inas and said, "I hope this doesn't lower your opinion of me, but it isn't just you that I was speaking for. I'm very outspoken against slavery--every part of it is wrong! It doesn't matter what the beast is! It's got a life and it could use it for wonderful things, even a vermin life."

She finally stood up to meet the weasel's black eyes for certain, and they seemed to turn slightly sad, "I haven't just been traveling around hoping to become a warrior and trying to help all those in need. I've been looking for good vermin, too. Though creatures disagreed with me, I always knew that if woodlanders can be good then so could vermin. You're the first I've stumbled across and I'm determined to keep woodlanders from eliminating you." Resolve seemed to become more solid in her eyes as she spoke each word, then after her monologue she looked around at the still unconscious captives and said, "We should leave, Inas. They'll be waking up soon."

Inas nodded wearily, then sheathed Martin's sword and headed out again. It didn't take long as they marched down the rode for the weasel to run into some trouble. Every step away from Redwall became a struggle. Fayal stopped, slightly ahead of him and turned around, shaking her head incredulously, "Inas, what's wrong? Why are you going so slow?"

The weasel just shook his own head and tried another paw; it stopped in midair, shuddered violently, then he set it back down next to his other paw. "I think Martin's holding me back, Fayal. He wants me to return to Redwall, I'm sure of it!"

The mousemaid's eyes widened in slight fear and wonderment, "What? Why though? You can't go back there, Inas, you'll be killed!"

Inas nodded and exhaled exasperatedly, "I know, Fayal, but I can't just run with the sword. I've got to take it back. I must face them. I can only hope that I will be coming out alive, though the chances seem faint. I'm sure Martin wouldn't kill me just to get back the sword."

The fear in Fayal's gray eyes became more pronounced and, weighed down with sadness it seemed, she stared at the dirt in the ground which had begun to dry. He barely caught what she muttered under her breath, "Martin the Warrior, how could you do this to me? To him!? I shall fail at protecting the vermin turned woodlanders because Inas has to return your sword. I hate you, Martin, because you may just be ending his life." Very reluctantly, Fayal turned back to Inas and nodded her head. "Alright, Inas, let's head back. And Inas…?"

He had already started to turn when he heard his name and looked back over his shoulder. Fayal stood there, calmly looking into his eyes and said, "Inas, you are a very brave woodlander. Not many creatures, good or bad, would return to face the consequences that are likely to be bestowed upon them. I admire your courage and calmness in the face of danger. If I know anything about becoming a warrior, then I would say that you are the truest one I've come across. Though, should it be short-lived, may your example live on and encourage the generations to come."

Inas chuckled a little, then said, "Thank you, but I'm terrified out of my wits. The only reason why I'm going back is because I have to. I appreciate your compliments though. Now, let's leave already. I want to get this over with as quickly as possible."

The duo started back under the cloud-laden skies of Mossflower, which forcefully dampened their spirits. But up above, shafts of moonlight could be seen breaking through the clouds, as though to give them one last vestige of hope.