CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

As Sodexo's party - now bolstered by three ferrets as well - drew within sight of Redwall, they were to encounter any number of creatures before actually setting foot inside the Abbey.

The first of these was a small knot of squirrels moving toward them across the open plains from the west, an even half-dozen of what were clearly more of the Gawtrybe archers. At first the woodlanders worried these might be the same squad they'd passed previously, who for some reason had circled north to settle what they saw as unfinished business with the badger who'd dared to question them so, but it quickly became apparent that these were different beasts altogether.

The squirrels vaulted over the roadside drainage ditch - not nearly so deep nor wide here as it became directly across from Redwall - and broke out onto the road just ahead of the tiny caravan. Their leader took stock of the procession as it approached, then his eyebrows shot up as he recognized the ferret tavern keeper. "Captain Grayfoot?" he asked in mild surprise.

Grayfoot nodded. "Aye, an' ye're Cap'n ... um ... "

"Matowick," the squirrel supplied. "Commander of the Gawtrybe at Salamandastron."

"Ah. Knew I reckergnized you as one o' Urthblood's Gatrybe cap'ns - just couldn't sort out in my mind which one. Been awhile since I was last in th' Northlands."

"Yes, I know. Aren't you a bit far from your tavern?"

"Only less'n half a day's march. Make trips t' Redwall all th' time, an' today seemed like a nice day fer one. I'm a lot closer to my tavern than you are t' Salam'dastron."

"Yes," Sodexo picked up, "what is the commander of that mountain's forces doing here in the heart of Mossflower?"

Matowick eyed the badger. "And you are?"

"Lord Sodexo of the Southern Glades. I have already made the acquaintance of some of your fellow Gawtrybe, and was nearly shot for my efforts."

"Then you must have done something to provoke such a response. We have more urgent business in Mossflower than picking fights with honest travellers."

"I merely asked questions they refused to answer - specifically, questions about the rats they held as captives. And now I know what your 'urgent business' in Mossflower is, thanks to Captain Grayfoot, so we've no need to press you for details you may be reluctant to provide."

"Grayfoot is no longer a captain in Lord Urthlood's forces," Matowick said, his jaundiced gaze lingering on the ferret, "and it sounds to me as if he may have been rather lax about sharing state secrets."

"And what state is that?" Sodexo challenged. "The only state I have ever known is the free state of Mossflower, where good creatures may come and go as they please. It seems it is not that way any more for its rats."

"If Grayfoot has told you of our campaign here, then he must also have told you of the reason for it, unless he was being irredeemably irresponsible. The rats of the lands, delivered to the Searat King Tratton so that they may live among their brethren, in exchange for a peace no other creature could have achieved, and the release of all Tratton's woodlander slaves. I'd call that a fair trade. More than fair, if you ask mice and otters and hedgehogs and squirrels who frittered their lives away in chains as recently as last season, but now know freedom."

"Yes, slavery is indeed a terrible thing," Sodexo agreed with a nod. "For anybeast. Now, I am no friend of rats in general, but some of those I saw being led away from their homes in bonds were clearly family beasts, including the very young and very old. Some spoke of friends and kin being slain for resisting. Is your Accord truly worth such a price?"

"Yes," Matowick replied without hesitation. "As somebeast who has seen firstpaw what the Accord has accomplished, I can state that it is without a doubt worth it. And once you reach Redwall, which I assume to be your destination, you may speak with some of the former slaves who passed through Salamandastron on their way to the Abbey, and hear from them whether they deem the Accord worth it as well."

Sodexo considered this. "You and your squirrels are going to Redwall as well, Captain?"

"We are."

"Then let us travel the rest of the short remaining way together, and leave any further debate until it can be resumed properly, ideally at table over food and drink."

"Might that not give you indigestion?" Matowick said facetiously.

"I am a Badger Lord. Certain things with which I do not hold truck may betimes stick in my craw, but I am not easily given to indigestion."

"Very well." The half-dozen Gawtrybe arrayed themselves in marching order alongside the travellers from the south, and momentarily all were underway once more. Gazing ahead, Matowick observed, "It seems there's a large turnout there already, outside their gates. I wonder what that could all be about?"

"I doubt it is for us," Sodexo replied. "Our visit was not announced, and I see no way the Abbeybeasts could be expecting us."

"As is the case with us as well," said Matowick. "It's possible we were spotted from the walltop coming across the plains, and I suppose birds may have alerted them to either your presence or ours."

"Yes, there certainly are a lot of them around these days, aren't there?" Neblett remarked knowingly.

"It seems a large assembly," Deakyne added, "far more than any welcoming party for us would likely warrant."

"Then let us go see what all this is about," Sodexo rumbled, "and hope that we have not caught the Redwallers at an inopportune time."

The crowd assembled in the road before the Abbey's open main gates was indeed an impressive one, consisting of scores of creatures of almost every woodlander species. And while a few of the mice on the fringes of the gathering could be seen to wear the traditional Redwall habits, it quickly became clear that the vast majority were not brothers or sisters of the order.

Their conversation trailed off as they all turned to face the newcomers approaching from the south. Sodexo halted with a score of paces between him and the Abbeybeasts, setting down the front of his cart to make the proper introductions. One of the habit-garbed mice broke away from the main group and scurried forward to greet the visitors.

"Why ... why, Lord Sodexo, isn't it? We had no idea you were coming! It's marvelous to see you again! Of course, you probably don't remember me, but I remember your last visit to us very well!"

"If you are the Abbot, then I gather you must be Geoff, whom I last saw as a young novice more seasons ago than I care to admit. I have been remiss in not visiting again before now, but we badgers measure time differently than other beasts, and it does have a way of slipping away from us."

Geoff's smile of welcome faltered. "Yes, quite a bit has happened at Redwall since you last came to us, and not all of it good, I'm forced to confess. We'll have much news for you to catch up on."

"Consider me mostly caught up already, Abbot Geoff. We passed by Drey Barrenoak on our way here, and spent a night with Deltus and his clan. He informed us of what has been going on in and around Redwall in recent seasons, including the tragic circumstances of Abbess Vanessa. And, as you can see, we have met up with Captain Grayfoot, who has enlightened us to matters Deltus conveniently overlooked or omitted from his accounts."

"Ah. So then I assume you also know of Lord Urthblood's campaign of relocating all Mossflower's rats to the coastlands, for delivery to the Searat Empire?"

"I do - although I can't imagine the situation having much of an impact upon you good folk here."

Geoff revealed a wry smirk. "Oh, you'd be surprised. So, we well know Grayfoot and Judelka and dear little Percy. Who are these other beasts in your company?"

"When last I visited Redwall, my daughter was still too young to travel the lands, and my wife needed to stay home with her while I journeyed. This time I have the privilege of presenting my wife Hekko, and our daughter Bostany."

The badgerwife gave a curtsey whose elegance belied her simple travel garb, while Bostany gave the barest of nods and not a trace of a smile.

"And this modest throng of mice and voles is, I believe, known to you by reputation if not by sight. May I present to you the riverside clan of Deakyne the mouse and Neblett the vole - most of their clan, at any rate."

Geoff's dourness instantly evaporated as his smile returned, even wider now than before. "Why, yes, yes, of course! These names are well known to us indeed! We've long hoped to see these goodbeasts here someday so that we might properly thank them for their hospitality to one of our own when he most needed it."

"On the contrary," Deakyne said as Geoff warmly shook first his paws and then Neblett's, "it is we who shall always owe an unpayable debt to Redwall, for delivering to us the heroes who rescued our stolen young ones and returned them safely to us when fate might easily have decreed otherwise."

"Yes, much about Redwall has to do with fate, as anybeast familiar with our histories could tell you. We'll leave the question of who owes the greater debt to whom for later, so let me just say it's wonderful to meet you at last, and we look forward to having you stay with us!" Geoff's gaze moved on to the squirrels. "And I see you have some Gawtrybe travelling with you as well, unless I misjudge these beasts for who they are. How did this come to pass?"

"We only just met up with them as we approached the Abbey," Sodexo explained. "They were coming across the Western Plains. More than that, I will leave for them to tell."

The Gawtrybe officer nodded at Geoff. "Abbot. Captain Matowick of Salamandastron, kindly requesting admittance to Redwall, upon your leave."

"As long as you plan to cause no trouble or strife to anybeast within our walls, Captain, you are welcome. Did you just travel here directly from the coastlands?"

"I did."

"Then am I to assume your fellow squirrels here came with you, and are not part of the forces who have been besieging our home?"

"Besieging Redwall?" Sodexo looked from Geoff to Matowick and back again. "Can this be true?"

"Well, perhaps 'besieging' is a bit strong, " Geoff conceded, "although it's certainly felt that way in recent days. And it most assuredly does apply to the rats sheltering at Redwall, who daresn't set one foot past any of our gates."

"Rats?" Grayfoot repeated, clearly surprised. "You got rats stayin' at the Abbey?"

"Quite a few, as a matter of fact - which I assume must be what has brought Captain Matowick here. I hope sharing our Abbey with them won't be a problem for any of you?"

"Redwall is a big place," Sodexo deemed. "I presume there will be plenty of room for them to have their space and us to have ours."

"Not everybeast seems to find that enough for their liking. Come, and make your way inside while I see to this other matter demanding my attention."

As they fell into step behind Geoff, they soon found they could proceed only a little way farther before all the creatures congregated out in the road blocked their progress. "Abbot, who are all of these beasts?" Deakyne asked. "They ... don't really look like Redwallers."

"They are in name, and hopefully in spirit as well, although there may be a bit of an estrangement for the near interim." Geoff addressed a sturdy mouse standing with all the other woodlanders outside the Abbey gate. "Lekkas, is this something you're absolutely sure you want to do? You don't have to, you know."

"On the contrary, Abbot, this situation here has become intolerable for us. We were the slaves of rats before coming to Redwall, some of us for most or all of our lives. We did not come all this way, and endure all we have, only to be forced to live with such creatures again."

"And it matters not to you that they are, in their own way, every bit as much prisoners here as most of you were under the searats?"

"That's not our concern. If they continue to live here, then we cannot. We have discussed this amongst ourselves, over several days and at great length. This is our final decision."

"Not too final, I should hope. When time comes to lay down the foundations of Freetown, either later this season or next, I anticipate seeing most of you here engaged in that endeavor, and seeing you settle in your new community as permanent neighbors of Redwall. But you do realize, the only thing separating you from those rats will still be a ditch, a road and a single high wall?"

"If they are even still dwelling at Redwall by that time," Lekkas countered. "Things do change, Abbot, and a lot can happen in a season. They may do something to get themselves expelled from the Abbey, or they might decide to leave on their own. Or maybe the rest of you will come to your senses and realize there's no place for creatures like that at Redwall."

"They've dwelt with us for many days now, have observed all our ways, violated none of our rules, and done nothing to suggest they mean to cause trouble or intend to depart. Considering what they face should they stray outside our walls, we are not about to expel them based on their species alone."

"Then they're all yours. We'll busy ourselves at the quarry, helping our moles and otters and the Guosim excavate the stone for our new home. I'm sure all our extra paws will be appreciated there, and speed the work along to a much earlier finish."

"If this is what you really want to do," Geoff conceded with a sigh. "Quarrying is hard labor, and not everybeast is cut out for it - no pun intended."

"We're former slaves, Abbot. We know a thing or two about hard physical labor."

"You've children among you. They've never worked at anything so hard before, I'm sure."

"They won't be expected to work. We'll keep them there with us as a reminder of what all the rest of us will be working for: the young ones we currently have, and those we hope to have in the future, once Freetown is built."

"Very well then. Is there anything else we can do for you to help you on your way?"

Lekkas grew more conciliatory in tone. "You've already been most generous in that regard, Abbot. The provisions you've bestowed upon us from Redwall's diminishing larders will see us through to the quarry and then some, and the blankets and bedding will serve us well during our journey there and afterwards as well. We have all we need. Thank you."

"The Sparra messengers we've been flying out daily between here and the quarry will follow your progress, and alert us at once if you encounter any trouble along the way, and the otters among you will be able to manage your crossing by raft to the other side of the Moss. We've done all we can to ensure the success of your sojourn; the rest is up to you."

"We appreciate it, Abbot. But a company as large as ours is unlikely to meet trouble from any mischief-minded beasts, and we do have more than a few scrappers among us, hardened by slave life and not about to shrink away from a fight. Our biggest concern will probably be any illness or injury that might befall us, but then you have your own concerns on that score as well. At least once we're on the other side of the river, we'll have the option of availing ourselves of Mona at Foxguard, should we suffer any malady beyond our own ability to treat."

"I'm sure you will make do just as we will. Good travels to you then, Lekkas, and we shall look forward to your return when Freetown is ready to go up." Geoff glanced toward Sodexo, who stood listening in our their conversation. "Although I should warn you, you'll be missing out on some of the finest honey in all the lands, unless I miss my guess as to why this badger is here."

"Perhaps we can keep them from missing it altogether." Sodexo turned and reached into his cart, producing another large pot of honey, this one even bigger than the one he'd bestowed upon Deakyne's and Neblett's clans at their riverside lodge. "I have heard enough here to surmise that you are all former slaves, now departing from Redwall for some major task which awaits you elsewhere. It would be churlish of me not to gift you with this modest token for your travels. It will only amount to a mouthful for each of you, owning to your numbers, but I hope you will find it to your liking."

"Lord Sodexo produces the best honey Redwall has ever tasted," Geoff told Lekkas, "and although it has been many seasons since he last gifted us with his succulent product, the memory and legend of it endures among us. You are fortunate indeed that you'll get to savor a taste of it for yourselves."

"Although hopefully more will await you upon your return," the badger added. "Redwall has always been my best customer, and I have brought an ample supply for barter."

The otter Tourki stepped forward to graciously accept the honey pot. "Yore generosity's much appreciated, good sir. Seems we ex-slaves have benefitted much in recent seasons from the largess of Badger Lords."

"May I ask why you are beginning your trek at this time of day?" Sodexo inquired. "The afternoon grows late, and the sun low toward the horizon. One would think such an expedition would best be mounted in the morning."

"Just the way it worked out," Lekkas explained. "We waited until we could be fully supplied with what the Abbey was willing and able to spare us. But it shouldn't be a concern; we should still make the Moss by nightfall. We'll camp there overnight, then cross come daybreak and make the short march to the quarry, to meet up with the Redwallers and Guosim already there."

Sodexo glanced to Geoff. "You've reopened the quarry?"

The Abbot nodded. "To build extra housing for all the beasts we have living here these days. It's become quite the necessity, in fact."

"Then I have arrived at an historic time indeed." The badger returned his gaze to Lekkas. "But why then do you leave by the western gate, when you are heading east? It would make more sense to depart from the opposite side of the Abbey."

"The size of our group, partly. Rather than having to trickle our way out in single file, we could exit much more rapidly through these main gates, and the road makes a good staging area to make sure we're all assembled in good order. But the main reason is the symbolism this gate represents to us."

"Symbolism?"

Lekkas nodded. "Not only do we now stand directly across from where Freetown will be built, but the rats we're fleeing came in through these gates, so we're leaving that way too. A nice little trade-off for the Abbot to contemplate in our absence."

"Now, Lekkas, be fair," Geoff protested. "We've done only what we've had to, according to Redwall's code. An argument could be made that if anybeasts are being unreasonable here, it's not me and my fellow Abbey leaders."

"Perhaps we are being unreasonable, in your eyes," Lekkas admitted. "But different creatures know different reason. And if you could do naught else but offer those rats sanctuary, perhaps we former slaves could do naught else but what we're doing now."

"Then we shall have to content ourselves with seeing things each in our own way - an honest difference between friends."

"And neighbors. We will see you again when we're ready to commence Freetown, Abbot, but for now, as this good badger has said, the sun grows low and the afternoon late, and we must tarry no more if we want to gain the Moss by nightfall."

With one last round of farewells and well-wishes, the party of liberated slaves marched off with Lekkas at their head and Clovis at his side, leaving the road and striking out through the meadow south of the Abbey. In very short order their entire company, many score strong, had snaked its way through the springtime fields and disappeared around the far corner of the wall.

"Well, that's that, I suppose, at least for now," Geoff lamented, then said to Sodexo, "but if their departure was a rather melancholic occasion, at least your arrival puts a little cheer back into the day. So, in that sense, your timing has proved most fortuitous indeed. Come, let us go inside, and we'll see about giving you all a proper Redwall reception - which means getting weary travellers off their footpaws and getting some fine fare into their bellies!"

"Sounds good to me," Neblett chuckled. "After our trek here from our home, I'd say a Redwall greeting is just what this vole needs!"

00000000000

As Lekkas and Clovis led their quarry-bound procession away from the Abbey and deeper into the nearby woods, the former slaves found themselves flanked by no fewer than a dozen of the Gawtrybe, with none other than Chetwynd himself directing them.

"If you don't mind," Lekkas said to the squirrel sergeant with a trace of impatience, "we are headed for the River Moss, and thence to the quarry pit, just as you were told to expect. What do you mean by accosting us so?"

Chetwynd waved off the mouse's censure. "Oh, we're not accosting anybeast, don't you worry your whiskers. You're all free to be on your way without delay - as long as you've no rats hiding amongst you."

"Rats?!" Lekkas nearly exploded. Whyever would we have rats among us? Those are the very creatures we're seeking to flee!"

"All well and good ... as long as this isn't some kind of Redwallian ruse, to sneak a few of those fugitives out under cover of a crowd of goodbeasts. I've heard it said that you Abbeybeasts can be crafty that way, resorting to guile to get your way while avoiding a direct confrontation. Sly as foxes, if rumors be true."

"And just where would we be sneaking them to?" Lekkas pounced. "They're already inside the one sanctuary in all Mossflower where you can't get them. Why would any of them risk capture and deportation by sneaking out of the Abbey with us?"

"Who can know how a vermin mind works? Maybe they remembered that they left the kettle on back home, maybe they're just in the mood for stroll. But we'll be checking every one of you as you pass, just to make sure you're all as innocent as you claim."

And so they did, closely inspecting every ex-slave in the line, poking and prodding at every wayfarer whose species wasn't immediately evident, paying special attention to mice who might have been small-statured rats trying to pass themselves off as their diminutive cousins.

Clovis fumed at this affront. "It's a good thing Kurdyla was one of the slaves who elected to remain behind at Redwall. If he were here now, I bet he'd try to see how high up into the tree branches he could fling some of these impudent bossytails!"

Lekkas regarded the stern and uncompromising faces of the Gawtrybe inspecting them. "Then I'd say it's a good thing for Kurdy that he's not here, because these squirrels are dead serious. They'd turn our musclebound otter champion into a pincushion with a rudder if he tried any of his usual brawny exploits on them."

Granholm yelled out at Chetwynd as he passed, "Hey, aren't you afraid those rats back at the Abbey might make a break for it while we've got you tied up here, and get clean away from you?"

"We're not all here," the Gawtrybe sergeant informed his fellow squirrel. "There are still a few of us watching the approaches to and from the Abbey. And in case you've not studied the skies this afternoon, we've doubled the usual number of gulls flying surveillance over Redwall. If our ratty friends try to escape, we'll be alerted to the fact before they've made it a dozen paces, and round them up in good time, whether they make for the plains or are foolish enough to re-enter our woods."

"Your woods?" Granholm scoffed. "The Abbey leaders are right about one thing: you Gawtrybe presume far too much, and have grown two sizes too big for your britches!"

"Don't wear britches - they interfere horribly with climbing and leaping, you know." Chetwynd fell into step alongside Granholm. "And for the purposes of our campaign, this is our forest, until every rat is accounted for. I'd have thought you former slaves of all beasts would have no issues with what we're doing here. We're ridding the lands of all rats. Do you really see that as a bad thing?"

"A Mossflower without rats might be a fine and splendid thing," Granholm shot back. "Maybe you're doing all goodbeasts a favor, and maybe you're taking way too much upon yourselves for a provision of your Accord you had no right to sign into law - I don't know. What I do know is that those rats mucking up our Abbey home wouldn't be there in the first place if not for you."

"The Abbot could very easily solve this whole dilemma - if he'd simply do the right thing and give those rats over to us."

"He's never going to do that, and you know it."

"Then we have an impasse, and Redwall stays under our watch. But it won't take us forever to see to all the other rats in central Mossflower, and once we're done with them, we might just have to turn our attention back to the Abbey."

"What? Are you talking about attacking Redwall, or placing it fully under siege? I thought Lord Urthblood ordered you to disengage from us?"

"Only because we have a lot else to keep us occupied for now. But if things get to the point where the only rats left in this part of Mossflower are the ones being sheltered at the Abbey ... " Chetwynd shrugged. "He might not want to risk Tratton's spies finding out about this and jeopardizing the Accord. And if that comes to pass, steps will have to be taken."

"If you're brash and misguided enough to move against Redwall, you'll find everybeast in Mossflower standing against you - and you'll see some of us won't go as quietly as these rats you've been terrorizing."

"I'd be careful with throwing around any threats there, friend, or else - " Chetwynd never got to finish voicing his own threat, for at that moment another squirrel dropped out of the trees, breathing heavily from exertion and clearly agitated.

"Sergeant, sir, y' gotta come quick! We got a situation - with those Abbey squirrels!"

Chetwynd instantly straightened to full alert, assessing the situation. Glancing up and down the line at his inspection team, who'd clearly uncovered nothing amiss, he said, "I guess we're done here ... " Sticking his paw in his mouth, he emitted a sharp, piercing whistle, and within moments all his Gawtrybe stood assembled around him. "Listen up, squirrels! Looks like we've got a real incident to investigate, so break off from here and let's follow Flynch! To the trees, on the double!"

As the astounded former slaves watched, the Gawtrybe raced up the nearer trunks and vanished into the forest canopy, pursuing the lead set by the scout Flynch. Before the last red flicker of their receding tails disappeared altogether, the otter Tourki stepped out of the line, holding high the large honey pot Lord Sodexo had given him.

"Hey, didn't y' wanna check this? I might have a rat hidin' in it!"