• • •

The infirmary was lit in a gloomy and shadowy hue because the only light that made it into the room was from around the corners of the drawn curtain. The certain had been drawn to set up a suitable setting for the coming event that was to happen in the room. The organizer of this event was Fezz and the only other beast in the room happened to be the still dazed Molvo, under the influence of herbal relaxants. The perfect sicuation for the mouse jester to have some fun.

He cleared his throat and put out his most eerie of voices. "Molvo..."

The squirrel didn't stir.

"MOLVO..."

Still, not a whisker moved. Impatient, the mouse threw a candied chestnut off Molvo's nose.

"Ow..."

"Molvo," Fezz exclaimed in a renewed gloomy voice.

When Molvo saw the source of this voice, he did not see the insolent mouse jester, he saw some beast covered in a black sheet, floating off the floor, or so it appeared to him in the dim lighting in the room.

"Moooolvoooo," the figure said again.

Panicked, Molvo dove under his covers, hiding his face, "Who are you?"

"I am the Keeper of the Dark Forest."

"Don't hurt me," Molvo groaned from under the sheets.

"I have been watching and I am displeased at what I have witnessed."

Molvo dared to peek and saw what appeared to be a skeletal claw pointing at him. His blood ran cold.

"You have no right to judge those thought in inferior to yourself. I have come to smote you from judging any others and torturing beasts with your behaviors."

"No, no, please, no!" Molvo screamed not noticing the gigging that the 'Keeper' was going while he did so.

"I don't think it's up to debate..."

"Please, I'll do anything!"

"Well..." the beast brought back the skeletal claw into his cloak, "Maybe there is one thing."

"What!"

"You must treat otherbeasts nicer, especially that those that you reprimanded in the cellars."

'Yes, yes," Molvo said, sobbing now.

"And there is one more thing..."

Molvo leaned forward to hear.

"BOOO!"

Startled, Molvo leapt back, became tangled in the sheets, balance on edge of the bed for a brief moment and then plummeted to the floor straight onto his head.

Fezz took this opportunity take leave of the now unconscious squirrel, stowing the black cloak in the closet, and keeping the gnarled stick. that he had used to protray a sketital paw. in his hat.

When he had exited the infirmary, Mari was jogging towards him, suspicions on her face. "Fezz, what were you up to in there?"

The mouse was fully prepared for this sort of 'unexpected' encounter. Fezz put a paw to his heart, "I gasp at the accusation that I would be up to no good. Hedgemaid of stunning beauty, I would think you to know of I better than that. I just wanted to check the well being of my dearest of companions. Now, he is in rest, so tired he fell to the floor. So long for now, sweet Mari."

Mari wasn't able to say a syllable before the mouse had disappeared around the corner.

• • •

Andrew was intoxicated. This, by itself, was not that amazing of a fact because it always seemed like he was intoxicated, which he actually was most of the time. The note that made this situation different was that in his paw he held a sword. Why he had the sword in his paw he couldn't remember for the life of him, or at least until Toby muttered, "Here comes your quarry."

"Quarry, I didn't know that those big rock quarries could move."

"No, not that quarry, the other quarry."

"Like a limestone quarry?"

The hare took the squirrel by the neck, "That squirrel that's trying to steal Olivia away from you, wot," he growled.

"Oh, why didn't you say so? That's sorta burglary to steal a beast."

Toby gave up trying to explain, he was going to help his friend win the paw of Olivia, whether Andrew knew of the help or not. He peeked out from where they hid, behind the gatehouse door. The squirrel was nearing, it was now or never. He stepped out, dragging Andrew behind him. Toby bowed to the squirrel, baring his exit. "Sir, I do not think we have had the pleasure to meet, and now I do not think is the time to bother, because my friend shall ensure that you no long come."

"I do not take your meaning," Ces said, eyeing the sword in Andrew's paw, putting a paw on the hilt of his own.

"You stand in the way of love, so that it cannot make it to the heart of Andrew," Toby explained, motioning to the squirrel, that appeared clueless to what was going on, "So now you must duel, to the death."

"What?" This exclamation was not only made by Ces, but also by Andrew.

"You didn't say that..." Before anyone could reject this action, Toby literally took Andrew and threw him at Ces. By this time, Ces had removed his sword from his belt and had it at the ready, though completely confused on what was going on.

What took place when their swords started to clash may have been the slowest, most unmotivated duel ever, every blow at light taps between blades, the steel swinging at air more than the other sword, and a literal closing of Andrew's eyes every time they impacted each others swords. The truth of the matter was that either wanted to be in the position; Ces didn't want to hurt this evidently drunken opponent, and Andrew had already forgotten what this fight was about.

This lasted for a short period before a rather unexpected event happened in the form of a grizzled fox.

By one sweep of his rusted sword he had the wary squirrel disarmed, another and the squirrel was knocked to the ground by the flat of the blade, a movement more and the tip of the blade tickled Andrew's throat. Ces stood frozen at this sudden interjection.

"Wot matter is dis o' beasts o' peace to be attackin' dis 'ere beasts of innocence? 'E be a new 'rrival and you try ta kill 'im. Dis I did not expect in de bringin' of a friend 'ere. By de way, 'ow did yer get 'ere afore me mate?" Antonio directed at Ces.

This befuddled Ces further, never had he seen this beast before, why did he act like he knew him? This fearsome fox was a foreign sight to Ces and even Violet's eyes. He opened his mouth but could not get words to come out.

"Neber mine dat now, I'll jus take care of di 'ere scallywag once and fer..." something knocked off his scalp and he fell backwards, still conscious but stunned. The Skipper of otters and Toby came running up. Skipper gave no second for the fox to recalibrate his senses, he took the canine by the front of his salt-crusted shirt to lift him to be snout to snout. "Who in Hellgates are you mate? Coming in here and attacking one of us. We don't take kindly to blood spilling vermin in these parts."

Antonio stammered, the hot breath of the otter in his face, the strength that held his shirt almost choking him, "I...I...dis 'ere's me friend, I'bringin' 'im do dis parts. Twas me meself dat saved 'im dere squirrel ferm de edge of death in der ocean."

Ces was trying to back away from this scene, that sickness arising in her stomach, none of this making sense to her. He saw the otter's questioning glance and he answered in a weak voice, "I know not of what he speaks. In sooth, Never have mine eyes seen him."

The fox's eyes widened as he heard the squirrel, fear and desperation filling them up, "No, dat cannot be, I know 'im, my love fer 'im is like dat to a brother, I..."

"Enough from you, you lying scum," the big otter barked, "I know the perfect place for you." With that, he dragged the fox away. Ces couldn't look away at the pain in the fox's eyes. Something bit at the edge of his mind, or her mind, Violet, of her deepest hopes, of a hint, of this occurrence, of what it really meant. She looked like someone the fox knew, someone the fox saved from the ocean...

Could it be, could she still dare to have that hope, that maybe, just maybe... The squirrel really didn't know where she was headed, she found herself going up the stairs of the great Redwall, to the high ramparts. She wasn't going to change her course, she couldn't return to Duke yet, she needed to clear her mind, and figure out the secrets...

• • •

Sitting at the gate, Fezz nibbled on an apple, supposedly standing guard against any marauding hordes of vermin that could be marauding about doing marauding. This was an amusing thought to Fezz so he volunteered for this position. He didn't take the threat seriously, the fox didn't seem that much of threat, in fact, the Dibbuns were having fun, getting him to test out various deserts where he sat tied up in Cavern Hole.

Redwall wasn't that horrible when it came to punishment.

In fact, Fezz wouldn't mind that punishment any day.

A figure was walking down the path towards him. Fezz tensed up a moment before he realized that it was a familar face. "Oh Ces, I've heard of your romantic endeavors. I wasn't sure if you left, but since it seems you did, I wouldn't have figured you back for a while."

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

Fezz cocked his head sideways to look at the squirrel again, "As sure as Dibbuns avoid water and dive in cream, I do. Don't I? You make me doubt the own conclusions of my foolishly wise concluders."

Relief was read on the squirrel, "Ah yes, you are a fool, a jester, I should have known for your headgear. Please, may I enter your Redwall Abbey."

"Sure. If it is actually mine I'm sure, the deed has never touched my paws as of yet. Are you sure you are not of the title 'Ces'."

"You are mistaken, it tis Seb."

Fezz opened the door to the squirrel, still wondering at the squirrel's familar appearence, as he passed into the Abbey it hit him. He knew one thing more too, everything was about to get a bit more fun.