Mattimeo and Weylan have a rather touching discussion, which is the most predominant. Also in this chapter is a discussion with Constance and the abbot, and a discussion with Toka and Mokeet.

Chapter 16

The following morning, Mattimeo and Weylan traveled to their destination in silence. There was little to talk about. They knew where they were heading, what they were after, and that was all that was needed. They even knew how long it would take for them to get there. Less than a day's march. They should reach their location before nightfall.

There was only one mystery left, and that what it was that was there that would hope bring the downfall of Toka. But they agreed that was something they were going have to find out for themselves, and the only way to do that was to get there.

So there was nothing they felt needed discussing between them. Both where musing about the reasons they were there, and all the events that tied in with that. Weylan was thinking about what caused this entire mess. Not that he wasn't glad to be looking out for a large treasure, and the adventures that might go along with it, he just wished it was for better reasons. The only reason they were out here was because Redwall's fate seemed to hinge upon it.

Weylan wished he could have began this journey simply for the adventure, and not have the fate of anything be resting on his shoulders. He wished that Toka hadn't arrived at Redwall, and therefore, he wished that Malkariss hadn't fallen.

Speaking of which...

"Matti..." Weylan began slowly. "'ow did Redwall bring down Loamhedge, an' why?"

Mattimeo didn't answer for a very long time, brooding over the thought of the event.

"I suppose it started with the feast." Mattimeo said. "A simple feast at Redwall, to celebrate the coming of summer, if I recall. It seems so distant now..."

He trailed off, thinking back. Weylan didn't press him.

"It was a night to remember though, because there was lots of good food, games, it was all fun." Mattimeo went on. "And we had no idea that it would end in tragedy."

"About halfway through, a group of traveling performers arrived at the gates, claiming that they wanted to stay and rest, and in return give us a show. Nobody saw anything wrong with that, and there wasn't anything that seemed out of place with the group, so we let them in. They did as they said they would, give us a show, and for awhile, it was all fun and games."

"But then the group's leader, a masked fox, got up to perform magic, which I think started to arose our suspicions, because the fun suddenly seemed to slow down. And it stopped altogether when the fox proposed a toast."

"All of our drinks were drugged, and made us all fall asleep with moments." Mattimeo paused, shuddering at the memory of what came next. "The next thing I remember, I, and several other youth around my age were all chained together at St. Ninians."

Mattimeo looked right at Weylan. "The fox kidnaped us. Just us young ones, in his idea of revenge against Redwall. He was going to make us slaves."

"Revenge?" Weylan asked.

"Yes, he had a run in with the abbey sometime before, and took it personally." Mattimeo explained distractedly. "Very personally. In fact, his real goal was to kidnap me. The others were merely bonuses in his mind. He thought that by kidnaping me, he'd hurt my father the most, whom he thought to be the source of his troubles."

"So 'e enslaved ye." Weylan said.

Mattimeo shook his head. "No, he was merely the 'carrier', so to speak. He was simply to get us alive to Malkariss. What happened to us after that point was none of his concern."

"Malkariss." Weylan repeated, turning the evil word over in his mind. "That's 'ow Redwall became aware of the place, then?"

Mattimeo nodded. "Pretty much. Malkariss falling was really wasn't intentional when it all began, but that's how it ended." he hung his head. "It's a season I try not to remember. Nothing but grief came all throughout it, and we all nearly lost our lives several times. Me, Tess, the other slaves, Slagar's own helpers, and the group from Mossflower that came to rescue us."

There was a pause. "Yore father was among them that nearly lost 'is life, wasn't 'e?" Weylan asked.

Mattimeo sighed. "For a day or more, I thought that he did lose his life." he said.

There was another pause. "That's why yore so upset about 'im being sick, I mean more than wot would be considered normal." Weylan deduced. "Yore afraid about losin' 'im like you thought ye did all those seasons ago."

Mattimeo nodded. "I guess I'm afraid of what it would feel like to lose the single creature you look up to the most, and realizing just how much you could have learned from him, but was too arrogant or preoccupied with the little things in life to take the time to find out, and that chance is now long gone." he said, fighting back tears. "Weylan, I couldn't face that again and be able to go on living peacefully. If I learned anything from that dreadful season, it was that."

Weylan stared at the ground for a moment. "Did ye also learn that, no matter wot 'appens, that you've got friends that'll 'elp you go on livin' peacefully?"

Mattimeo shook his head. "No, I didn't." he admitted. "But how could anyone live that feeling, to know that you missed out on so much, on the opportunity to learn so much?"

"I don't know." Weylan admitted. "But there must be some way in doin' it. I mean, look at everyone we know. Some of 'em must 'ave gone through somethin' like that at least once. An' they've gotten through it."

Mattimeo rubbed his eyes, trying to hide his doubt.

"Whatever the case, it's like I said before, mate." Weylan said, catching sight of Mattimeo's doubt. "Yore friends will be there, and they'll 'elp ye find a way to deal with it."

Mattimeo pulled out Martin's sword, and studied it, still blinking back tears. "Not unless we stop Toka." he said darkly. "He threatens that image of peace and happiness that we both crave, and it will stay that way until either he's dead, or we are."

And with that statement, he marched onward with renewed vigor, Weylan trailing in his wake.

Breakfast at Redwall brought with it a depressing attitude, as everybeast remembered the threat of attack Toka presented against their abbey, forgotten while they all slept.

Except, it seemed, for the abbot.

This puzzled Constance, because it seemed to her, that out of everyone in the abbey, he would be worried the most. And granted, that worry was still there, but greatly decreased. In it's place seemed to be a good deal of cheer, cheer that seemed nonexistent in light of recent events.

It was a puzzle to Constance, but she did have a theory as to what, or in this case, who caused it.

Marigold. Constance had caught sight of Marigold and the abbot meeting together in the early hours of the day, holding a quick whispered conference. Although Constance didn't hear a word of it, she knew that the two were up to something.

And whatever it was, it relaxed Marigold a good deal herself. Unlike yesterday, where she was quite jittery, the squirrel seemed much more relaxed and ready to in fit with the other Redwallers, Swayner in particular. Although it was no where near to the same extent as the abbot's, a good deal of cheer was being emitted from her as well.

It was real puzzle all right. One that Constance thought merited an answer.

"Father Abbot." she said, setting aside her breakfast for the moment. "Would you care explaining to me what it is you're doing?"

Mordalfus gave Constance an odd look. "Eating breakfast." he answered.

"No, I mean," Constance began again, "What you're doing with Marigold."

Mordalfus stared at the badger. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, old friend."

"Don't play games with me." Constance said. "I've seen you talking with Marigold. You're up to something, and I want to know what it is."

"Constance, I assure you, if it was of any great concern, you would know." Mordalfus answered, cleverly avoiding any kind of answer to Constance's question.

The abbot finished his meal and collected his dishes, standing up to take them to the kitchens. "Oh, one more thing, Constance could you relieve the guards along the right side of the south wing of the abbey?"

"Certainly Father Abbot, but who should fill their place?" Constance asked.

"Oh, don't worry about that, please just relieve them from their posts." the abbot answered, walking off. "I daresay, they probably could use a break by now."

Constance stared at the back of the receding abbot, wondering just what was going on...

Mokeet watched the work on the catapult begin to wrap up, knowing it wouldn't be long before it would be put to use. He wished there was he could do about it, but he knew that so long he was prisoner in this encampment, there was nothing he could do.

It was still fairly early in the morning, but he was surprised when the group of guards arrived to take him to Toka. Apparently the warlord planned an impromptu meeting.

As always, the ferret was sitting in the gatehouse cottage, flipping through Redwall's records. He looked up from his studies as Mokeet was brought in.

"Mokeet, mate, how are we doing today?" Toka asked, waving the guards out of the room.

"I ain't yore mate." Mokeet answered, and said no more on the subject.

Toka gave his prisoner a frown and shut the book. Mokeet realized it was the same one he had seen Toka reading just after the first battle with Redwall.

"I suppose you're concerned for the well being of the beasts inside the abbey, correct?" Toka asked, getting up from the desk he sat at.

"More than ever." Mokeet answered.

"You've seen the catapult in action before, Mokeet." Toka said, pacing circles around his prisoner, "Do you think I can defeat them?"

"You'll give 'em a challenge, that's fer sure." Mokeet responded mildly.

Toka grinned. "I like challenges." he said.

"I've noticed."

"Well, challenges are all part of the game." Toka pointed out, staring out the window at the silent building he held under siege. "Without them, we'd be lost."

"True, but if I didn't 'ave any challenges at the moment, I wouldn't be listenin' to ye." Mokeet muttered.

Toka heard, and gave Mokeet a scowl, but said nothing about the remark.

"I suppose yore goin' to try and attack 'em now, eh?" Mokeet asked, frustrated at his position.

"Actually, no." Toka said. "I'll hold off on the attack for now, give those Redwallers inside a false sense of security, maybe give them a chance to let their guard down. Besides, I might have a better way to take the abbey than to use the catapult."

He knocked on the door as he walked past it, and the guards came back in to take Mokeet away again. "It's Redwall's last chance to fight me either way." the warlord added, watching Mokeet being dragged away.

The door closed, and Toka returned to the desk, looking down on the book he now carried with him everywhere. "Yes, Redwall, it's your last chance to live." he hissed to himself. "Which is more than you deserve..."