Chapter 4

Adrin couldn't say why she felt nervous as she rechecked her bag of herbs, her journal, and food and made sure everything was there as it should be for the journey. It would take two weeks of hard walking at least to find her way around the mountains blocking Mossflower from Salamandastron. Unless I can find a way over them, she mused as she thought back on Martin's, Gonff's, and Dinny's story of meeting the "flying mice" in the mountains barring them from Salamandastron. Perhaps there was a way over them.

Hoisting her somewhat heavy pack over her shoulders she trooped her way out onto the grounds to wait for McKaid. The sun had yet to rise over the fog laden forest of Mossflower, but she could tell the day was getting lighter and lighter with each moment that passed by. Breathing deeply and trying to calm her nerves she waited impatiently for him in front of the gate where various other Redwallers were. The Abbot had informed every creature in the building of hers and McKaid's decision to go to Salamandastron, but when he spoke of her reasons it was met with an uneasy détente. Most didn't seem to believe her idea would work, but to speak about their presumptions would've been rude and so they remained quiet.

It had caused Adrin to remain silent and lapse into deep brooding as the Redwallers doubted her vision and her. It was something she had not anticipated in any of them, hoping that they might see the merits, or at least display an attitude of "why not?" Most faces seemed to scream "why bother?" though.

Being a very emotional mousemaid had caused a severe lack of restraint on her disapproval of the place, which seemed to not believe in her and her thunderous visage drove her friends away, or caused them to shut their mouths before they spoke and tread into dangerous territory. McKaid, also, seemed to have fixed a disapproving glare on his face all through dinner, though he displayed it with a considerable more amount of control.

"Let them say what they want, Adrin," he'd whispered to her around a mouthful of food as he gazed around at the creatures occasionally glancing at them. "I believe in your vision and you should, too, so don't worry what they think." His words had diminished most of the darkness into a spark of hope, and she now latched onto that.

But because of her lack of command very few Redwallers had actually decided to rise, and see her and McKaid off. As she glanced around at them she noticed, too, that no one had shown up to see the aspiring warrior off, either. Only Abbot Morton and the Gatekeeper Cambin were there in the early hours of morning waiting patiently for McKaid and breathing in the fog.

Aside from the Abbot, Cambin was now the only other person in Redwall Adrin truly had a liking for since so many other creatures seemed to turn their back on her, unbelieving. I'll show them, Adrin had thought to herself and then silently sent out a mental message to Baresck, wishing—hoping—it would reach the cat wherever she was, I'll show that woodlanders should accept vermin. For you, Baresck!

Just when Adrin seriously began contemplating leaving McKaid to catch up with her later she saw his blurred silhouette appear in the fog until it he was no longer a shadow and his face was brought into sharp relief by the lantern Gatekeeper Cambin held up. "Ah, there you are, my son," Abbot Morton said as he unfolded his arms to clasp the young mouse's hands and smiled genially up at him. "I do hope you both take care of yourselves on your journey, and watch out for each other. May your goals meet success! And if my assumptions are correct then you shouldn't need this; however one cannot be too cautious." And then from behind him Abbot Morton revealed the sheathed sword of Martin the Warrior. As plain as the sheath appeared both McKaid and Adrin merely imagined the magnificent sword being shielded beneath, knowing that in truth it gleamed like a beacon in the night, as new as a blade just forged in the blacksmith's shop.

McKaid was flabbergasted as he slowly took the sword from the Abbot, hefting it to test its weight before meeting the warm eyes of the old squirrel, who smiled back at him. "Why, Father… I-I never would've expected such a prized possession to fall into my paws." Standing up further and clearing his throat he bowed more deeply and dignified saying, "Thank you, Father Abbot. I will wear it with pride."

"And hopefully you won't wield it to spill blood. We've already pointed out the ironies of a warrior with Martin's sword protecting the instigator of this plan," the Abbot said with a wry smile before he'd turned to said instigator. He smiled warmly into her eyes before quietly speaking, "I believe you can accomplish it, my daughter. Good luck."

"Indeed," Cambin gently broke in as he grinned at the pair of them before his eyes locked with Adrin's. "You must tell me of your success when you make it back so that I might write it down and log it into our history."

Adrin almost blushed at the certainty in Cambin's response and said, "Thanks for the support, Cambin. I hope it goes as well as you seem to think it will." In honesty she was beginning to truly doubt if this venture was folly or not. It was a dream. Very much a dream, yet, despite her doubt, there was an unyielding flame inside her that said "I will succeed."

She barely had time to ponder it when her head jerked up at the sound of the aging, sturdy gates creaking open through Cambin's use of the crank. Finally open she was just about to step outside the safe walls when a thought recurred to her and she turned to the Gatekeeper, "Brother, do you know of a mountain pass through the mountains that block our way? It would save us a lot of time."

From the expression on the gatekeeper's face that could be discerned with the shadow of lantern light he knew of one. The indecision to tell them, though, stretched in the moments as he remained silent before sighing and saying, "Mind, this piece of information is not confirmed, but I've heard that there's a pass that was carved into the mountain right where the Great Southstream near the southwest of the mountains cuts through. You're going to have to see if it is really there, but that's all I have to offer. Good luck, Adrin and McKaid."

"Good day to you, Brother Cambin," McKaid replied respectfully with a slight bow of his head, and then turned to head out the doors first while Adrin voiced her own goodbyes. Stepping out of the gates was like stepping into a black void. They knew where to go, but the deep fog and lack of light made it difficult to navigate through the trail. They were gone to the eyes of the Abbot and Cambin in no time.

The old squirrel gatekeeper breathed when he lost them to fog and lowered the lantern, turning to the Father Abbot who was somberly watching them go. Cambin finally broke the oppressive silence made even more foreboding with the heavy clouds, "I always expected great things from that mousemaid. I wonder if she really can create a miracle at Salamandastron."

"Only time will tell, Brother," the Abbot whispered back, his voice quivering as he meaninglessly continued to stare down the path the pair had disappeared down.

Cambin turned to give Abbot Morton a suspicious look then said, "I have a feeling you're not telling me everything. Mind if I hear? Or would you rather keep that to yourself?"

Just as Cambin had hesitated to give the mountain pass information to Adrin, the Abbot faltered now and then finally said, "I have a shrewd suspicion we won't be seeing either of those two again. But I can't say if it's because they will fail or succeed. Please don't share that with any other creature."

"Not a soul will hear it from me, Father," Cambin replied in a steady voice, though deep inside his heart went out to the young mouse and mousemaid. The last thing he wished before he turned away to continue his daily routine was that Martin would watch over both the young travelers.

The pair continued walking far into midmorning when they finally decided to sit under a thin rowan tree with its slightly drooping branches wilting in the late spring heat. Munching on the preserved scones the two sat quietly together, looking ahead of themselves into the future and trying to figure out just what obstacles lay before them.

Despite the pleasant chirp of a bird nestled in a tree nearby, Adrin found the silence unnerving and broke it gently, hoping that she wasn't intruding on McKaid's thoughts, "Do you hope we find that mountain trail Brother Cambin was talking about?"

"Yes, I do," he replied, suddenly jerking his head in her direction, no doubt having been deep in thought. He returned the question. "Do you?"

"Well, of course… But—I'm anxious to see what awaits me. Can't say I'm eager or frightened beyond belief to imagine what might be in store for me. My plan… Do you think it's worth it?" She was sure she'd asked him this question at least a dozen times before and he'd always answered the same way.

He surprised her this time. "It's worth a shot, that's for sure," McKaid answered, his voice low as he once again roved his eyes to a different spot so that he would not have to look into hers. "I can't say if it can be accomplished, but I certainly hope it will."

She nodded and stayed silent, letting his words sound in her head before she probed him, "You doubt it will?"

Her male friend turned very slowly to her with such a thoughtful expression on his face Adrin seriously wondered just what he was contemplating. "I don't know. I've been thinking on it and… I just don't know. Something will happen, but I can't tell if it will err on the good side or bad. Either way, I'll be by your side when it does," he said soberly. What he did not voice was that he would be there mostly for her protection over just letting her take the brunt of the shockwave should it be bad.

Further conversation seemed to evaporate as Adrin tried, and failed, to think of a topic. Snapping her mouth shut after half a dozen attempts she merely decided to enjoy her repast. After the break both mice shouldered their packs and began trudging onward, newly refreshed.

Though Adrin was outwardly calm and unruffled, her thoughts and feelings roiled within her. She wasn't sure she had the courage to face two armies, let alone one that wanted to conquer Salamandastron. Both oppositions—from the day they were born—had been taught to hate each other, she was fairly sure of that judging by the attitudes at Redwall. Is there any way around it? She asked herself. But the most she could hope for was listeners or those who'd had a change of view, like she had.

They walked for a good hour or more when McKaid suddenly paused and narrowed his eyes at something in the distance. Adrin, so immersed in her thoughts, barely saw his action and came up abruptly, alarmed at his sudden halt, "What is it, McKaid?" At the same time she scolded herself, Keep your mind off your mission! You haven't even gotten within sight of Salamandastron and you're already trying to predict the outcome. Don't get too far ahead of yourself!

"I think I see someone coming," he replied, leaning further forward, opening and narrowing his eyes in turn. Then he smiled and said, "Aye, that's somebeast heading this way!"

Adrin looked also and managed to see a smudge barely standing out against luscious green background of the mountains. But it was there. Grinning to him as well she gestured with a nod to her head, "Come on. Let's go see who it is. Perhaps they'll help us! Or maybe they have news on the situation at Salamandastron."

Picking up their pace the two began with a more determined will since their objective had suddenly switched from a long term, unforeseeable goal to a creature making their way toward him. It wasn't oft a traveler drifted Redwall's way on the road.

It took another's hour walking before they were within hailing distance of each other and McKaid cheerfully hollered to the other creature, waving his paw aloft, "Good afternoon, friend!" Once they had come closer they could discern the physical features of the beast more clearly and were surprised to see a lone otter walking with a nearly identical pack on his shoulders, though appearing more laden.

He waved back, grinning cheerfully, "G'day to yerself!" They finally halted a few paces away from each other to size the other up.

McKaid broke the silence first after a few seconds, "I'm McKaid of Redwall. It's nice to meet you, good sir." He held out a paw, which the otter took with his own calloused ones and shook heartily, as any otter would.

"'Tis a pleasure, mate," the otter replied in a gruff voice. "The name's Sanbar. I don' really come from anywhere anymore. Been gone so long from me friends an' family." As far as otters went, the otter was nothing extraordinary. Though tall—Adrin was sure he was a sea otter—he was strongly built with dark brown fur, and appeared considerably thinner than he rightly should have concerning his size. However, he grinned jovially at them and shook her paw.

She grinned back. "I am Adrin, and I come from Redwall as well. Now, if you don't mind my prodding, sir, but why did you say you don't really have a home?" She asked curiously, her head cocked to the side with interest as he studied his grizzled face.

"Well, when I 'ad reached adulthood in me tribe I took up my backpack and went rovin'. I haven' stopped, either. Sir, marm, you wouldn' believe the world we live in. 'Tis an amazin' place! Now mind tellin' me where yer goin'?"

McKaid spared an uneasy glance at Adrin, but she merely smiled and said, "Not at all, Sanbar. We're heading off to Salamandastron. Do you know of any news from there?"

Here the sea otter's visage darkened and he said, "Aye, an' 'tis a sad situation, miss. That ole' badger lord up there an' his hares are preparin' for the worst 'cause o' that army marchin' from the south. I sure hope you don' go that way to get there 'cause you'll be slain by that lot."

"Well, we never actually intended to go that way. We were wondering if there was a passage through the mountains," Adrin asked without her grin this time. Her face was grave and serious as she gazed up into the otters aquamarine eyes.

He managed a sad smile this time and responded, "Oh aye, that there be. If you wasn' goin' to suggest it then I would've. Follow it along that one stream there that breaks off from the main river. Right next to it on the left side you'll find a windin' staircase. If ya know where 'tis then it's hard ta miss. Now, may I know why yor headin' to that battleground?"

Adrin paused perceptibly; obviously hesitant to divulge her cause for reasons she didn't fully comprehend. Then she nodded, "I'm on a mission to stop this war. I'm hoping to make peace between the two sides." She said, and then added as an afterthought, "Do you think I have a chance?"

"There's always a chance, miss," Sanbar responded with a bright grin this time, his eyes dancing. "In fact, I wish you will win. I wasn' impressed with that badger's high an' mighty attitude. Same with those hares… They all had such a firm belief all vermin were evil. Which 'tis not true."

Adrin's eyes lit up and said next sentence as more of a statement than a question, "You've met some of those vermin."

"Aye, I 'ave an' they're not the cold-blooded killers them hares seem ta think," Sanbar said as he turned his head to gaze over Adrin's shoulder as his eyes peered back into the past. "We 'ad many a good time." He shook his head visibly to shake the reminisce from his mind and said, "Well, g'luck to ye and 'bye."

"Good bye, Sanbar, and thanks for the information," Adrin said, hoisting her pack up onto her shoulders once more and starting to walk forward again; her petite figure spoke of a bounding energy and barely contained patience, though her face sobered once more at the contemplation of the duty on her shoulders, and the resolution.

McKaid was only a beat behind her in responses, "Bye, Sanbar. If you keep going down this road you'll eventually come to Redwall. Big place, you can't miss it. Stop there for a good meal and a soft bed if you are so inclined to take a rest from your wandering." The otter nodded at him once, waved, and continued walking forward. The young mouse watched after him almost wistfully as he went, and then he turned and started off after Adrin. They still had a long walk ahead of them.

It was almost sunset by the time they got to the passage both Sanbar and Cambin had spoken of. Following the stream led them to an obscure path carefully hidden by a bushy weeping willow and several other bushes position close to the river. Using the sword of Martin McKaid carved a better path between the bushes and pushed through until they'd made it through to stand on a tiny, white sand beach reaching up from the rushing water to warm their souls. Despite the dark sides of the cliffs seeming to close in on the path it did not appear forlorn or cold, it was merely functional and emanating the heat of the day.

"We'll start onto the path and then we'll eat and hopefully we'll be able to get a little farther before the sun goes down entirely. I forgot to ask Sanbar how long it would take to get to Salamandastron," Adrin said gloomily as she stared up to the cliff edges.

"Don't worry about that, Adrin. It obviously won't be long if he was going to suggest it to you before you brought it up. Come on, we best get going," McKaid replied after sheathing the sword and started forward as the leader this time. Within a few paces the two mice had set paw on the warm gray stone still emanating heat from the afternoon sun, and soon they were lost to view.