This chapter would've began "the battle you've all been waiting for" but this chapter was dragging on to be quite long, so I decided to save it until next chapter. Besides, what better place to start probably one of (if not THE) most piviotal points in the story than at the twentieth chapter? Anyway, enjoy. :)
Chapter 19
As dawn broke over Mossflower, the Guosim shrews all pulled double duty to propel their log boats down the stream they rode upon as quickly as possible to Redwall abbey, all of them hoping that they wouldn't arrive to find the worse had happened. As they traveled, Mattimeo and Weylan explained their plan to Flugg.
Flugg nodded in understanding as they finished. "But how do yeh plan to get this Toka feller into the treasure cave?"
Weylan and Mattimeo looked at each other. "We haven't figured that part out yet." Mattimeo admitted.
Flugg gave them a look.
"Look, right now our priority is to get to Redwall." Weylan pointed out. "We can figure out that detail there. In fact, it'd probably be better to wait until then anyway, 'cause we don't know wot's all 'appened there while we were gone."
"Alright, alright." Flugg answered. "But yore goin' to get to Redwall real quick at this rate, better have somethin' in mind beforehand."
"But how can we possibly lure Toka and his horde into the treasure cave before they take Redwall?" Mattimeo asked. "He wants the abbey very badly, and something as trivial as an unguarded treasure isn't going to make him stop his attack on Redwall long enough for him and his horde to go get it."
"Well, judging from what you've told me of this treasure, it sounds like he'd his whole horde to move it." Flugg offered.
"But then he'd simply wait until he safely has Redwall to go get it." Mattimeo pointed out, "and then it'd be too late and pointless."
"Seems we're stuck either way, mate." Weylan remarked. "Wot we need is more about Toka 'imself, wot 'is 'abits are, stuff like that."
"There can't be very many creatures who would know all of that." Mattimeo said. "At least, who'd be willing to talk."
"Yes, there's probably only one in all of Toka's 'orde." Weylan remarked.
Such a beast was currently watching Toka march angrily across the abbey grounds. Curious, Mokeet sat up straighter in his cage to listen. Toka came to a stop halfway to the abbey itself, and paused, looking the red stone building over for a moment.
"Attention Redwallers!" Toka roared. "I want to talk with your warriors! Mattimeo or Matthias, it doesn't matter! But I want to talk with one of them and quickly!"
There was a long pause in which Mokeet wondered what this was all about, before deciding that it was probably Toka's failed attempt to infiltrate the abbey that was the cause of it. No doubt he wanted to vent some anger off on the creatures within the abbey.
Personally, however, Mokeet was very happy at the end result of last night's events. Because all it did was further prove that the Redwallers were much more capable to battle, and that Toka had no hope of an easy victory. He was going to have to fight to get it, and hopefully, when it came to that, the battle would go in Redwall's favor.
"I'm listening, Toka!" came Mattimeo's voice, "State your business!"
"Surrender now, or face the consequences!" Toka declared, getting straight to the point.
"Didn't we go through this already?" Mattimeo asked sarcastically. "The answer is no, Toka."
"Then the deaths of those beasts in that abbey will be on your head, mouse." Toka said. "My horde outnumbers you, and me and my warriors can outfight you!"
"If that's true, then we have been able to stop all of your attacks pretty easily." Mattimeo remarked in a taunting manner.
"Those were simply attempts to get your abbey by stealth." Toka pointed out. "You and your abbey has already proven that won't work. But let's see how you fair in a real battle. To the death."
There was a long pause.
"I will repeat my earlier statement." Toka went on. "Surrender now, or die."
Mattimeo did not answer for a long period of time, and Mokeet suspected that he was deliberating with others in the abbey, to work out the best answer. The fact that they didn't have an answer ready immediately concerned Mokeet. It was clear that Redwall wasn't confident that it could win the battle that Toka proposed they do. And it was clear that Toka knew it, and thus was trying for a psychological attempt to get the abbey, albeit last ditch.
"We will not surrender, Toka." Mattimeo finally announced. "And it will stay that way until the last one of us falls."
Toka considered his options for a moment before answering. "Here's what I'll do, Matti." Toka said. Mokeet wondered where the warlord picked up the nickname he called Mattimeo. "I'll give you until noon today to go over your choices and come to a decision. After that point, well, I have a catapult here ready for use and several warriors here just itching to do battle."
The warlord paused to let that sink in.
"Until noon, then, Mattimeo of Redwall." Toka said, and then walked off, surprisingly towards Mokeet's cage.
"What do you make of that, mate?" he asked his prisoner.
"Fer the last time, I ain't yore mate." Mokeet responded, glaring at the evil ferret.
"Still having high spirits about that abbey are we?" Toka asked, "Well, Mokeet, I might as well tell you now that it's all in vain. That abbey has no real defense against either that catapult, nor my horde." he grinned wickedly. "Let's see how you feel once you witness that abbey fall right into my paws."
And with that, Toka left for the gatehouse cottage, feeling more confident than ever, leaving Mokeet feeling just the opposite.
Toka was right. And there was no denying it.
When Toka entered his self-proclaimed quarters and personal library in the gatehouse, he found that he had company.
"Marigold!" he exclaimed cheerfully. "Just the squirrel I wanted to see!"
Marigold watched the warlord, waiting until it was her turn to speak to say anything.
"So, my little spy," Toka went on as he sat down at the room's desk, fingering the mysterious book he carried constantly, "What went wrong last night?"
"Nothing, my lord." Marigold answered calmly. "It was just as you wanted it, there were no guards on the left hand side of the abbey's left wing. However, there were three beasts who acted without permission and took upon themselves the duty of guarding that wing of the abbey. It was they, and only they, who stopped your attempts to enter the abbey."
"What are their names?" Toka asked, pulling out a quill and a piece of parchment.
"Constance, Basil Stag Hare, and Cheek Stag Otter." Marigold answered without hesitation.
"Right." Toka said, jotting down the names, "Now Marigold, I want you to keep an eye on these creatures at all times, and make sure they do not interfere with my plans again. Or I'll make real use of that pretty tail of yours."
Marigold gulped, and clutched her bushy tail with one paw.
"Now, how are our two warriors, Matthias and Mattimeo of Redwall?" Toka asked.
"Matthias is still very ill, and Mattimeo has not returned yet." Marigold responded. "The Mattimeo you've been hearing is Cheek impersonating him."
"Do you know the abbey's plans?" Toka asked next.
"I do not."
"Find out what they are then by noon." Toka ordered. "Any later and we'll be engaged in battle."
"Yes lord."
"Also, see if you can get the Redwallers rallied up for surrender. Dampen their spirits a little bit. Be the bearer of bad news. Anything that might make the battle go easier for me." Toka added.
"Yes lord."
"Now leave, and be quick about it, Marigold." Toka said, picking up the book and turning to a specific page. "I have matters to attend to."
Marigold nodded, put on her cloak, and wandered out onto the abbey grounds. Ducking into the early morning shadows to avoid detection, she made her way to the south entrance into Redwall. Finding the door unlocked as always, Marigold snuck inside, closing the door behind her. Turning long enough to lock the door again, she started forward again, only to be grabbed by three sets of hands.
"Don't move." Constance growled angrily, "And I'll go easy on you."
"What?" Marigold managed to gasp out before one of the six paws clamped itself over her mouth.
"We know that you've been spyin' on us fer Toka." Cheek said.
"Bally lot it got you, too, didn't it?" Basil added. "It's caused a spot of bother for both us and yourself."
"Please, it isn't what you think!" Marigold exclaimed, prying Basil's paw off hr mouth.
"Oh?" Constance asked sarcastically. "Then please enlighten us."
"I'm on your side!" Marigold explained urgently. "I've been giving Toka false information!"
"If that was true, then he wouldn't have gotten so close to getting inside our abbey last night!" Constance said. "You'll have to do better than that, Marigold."
"Toka was allowed to get that far!" Marigold said. "He thinks I'm giving him accurate information, and we agreed to maintain that image that he be allowed several chances to get real close to infiltrating the abbey! A real gamble, I know, but..."
"Hold on a moment there, young gel, who agreed on that decision?" Basil interrupted.
"The abbot." Marigold said. "He knows what I've been doing, and it was his idea to let Toka get so close to infiltrating the abbey. He knew that if he let such an obvious blind spot in the abbey's security that you, Constance, at the very least, would make sure Toka wouldn't take advantage of it, even if it meant going against the abbot's request."
Basil thought that through for a moment. "By the fur, that's a jolly ingenious idea!" he exclaimed.
"I still say she's lying." Constance said. "How can we possibly trust you?"
"You could ask the abbot to see if I'm telling the truth." Marigold proposed.
"I've already tried, he's keeping the matter secret." Constance said, "So no luck for you on that matter."
"Well, if you're really up to it, I suppose you could give Toka a questionnaire to see if I'm telling the truth." Marigold said, looking slightly annoyed. "I'm honest, I haven't done much of anything to betray your abbey."
"But how do we know that you're simply pretending to double-cross Toka, when you're really double-crossing us?" Basil asked.
"That was originally the plan, but the abbot caught me in the process of sneaking out, and convinced me to pretend to double-cross you when I was actually double-crossing Toka." Marigold assured the hare.
"So your double-crossing Toka into thinking that you're double-crossing us into thinking you're double-crossing him?" Basil asked.
"A double-double-cross then?" Cheek proposed.
"Stop it you two." Constance ordered. "And that still doesn't change anything, Marigold. All we have to go on is your word."
"The abbot trusts me." Marigold pointed out. "Shouldn't that be enough to convince you? Besides, right now you don't have a choice. Capture me and Toka simply attack sooner. Right now, I'm your best hope of survival." she paused, studying the creatures that were holding her.
"She's right, you know." Basil finally said. "No matter what, we have to let her go free, regardless of the fact if she's telling the truth or not."
"It will be only prolonging the inevitable." Constance insisted.
"Not if you let me go free." Marigold said. "Unless you want every beast in this abbey to suffer an unmerciful death and Toka's hands."
Constance thought it over for a few moments, then let go. The others followed. "Alright, fine." Constance said. "But only because I have to. However, keep in mind that I'll be watching you."
"Then I'll be able to prove that I'm telling truth." Marigold said, and then went on her way.