This was a hard chapter to write, because I realized that Toka wouldn't fall for what I plan to have happen too easily. I think I've got it to work though. ;)
Chapter 24
"Any ideas what started it?" Toka asked later that day in the gatehouse, listening to Knottail's report while absentmindedly flipping through the book he constantly carried, stopping to skim through the occasional page.
"None, lord." Knottail replied. "It was completely unexpected. They just suddenly unbarred the upper windows of the abbey and started attacking, mostly with slings, but they used the occasion arrow as well."
Toka sighed and set aside the book. "That's not like them." he said, "They've been very careful to not waste their resources up until now, why would they suddenly change that?"
"Maybe they're desperate." Knottail suggested.
"Oh, I know they're desperate." Toka said, standing while favoring his injured arm. "Just not that desperate." He went to the nearby window and stared out it at the reddish-pink abbey outside, glowing in the light being cast from the setting sun. "They're up to something, but the question is what."
"Do you think they're trying to escape?" Knottail asked. "The attack might have been a ruse to draw us away so that they could..."
"No, they're not trying to escape, they hold that abbey too dearly to just abandon it like that." Toka said, immediately scratching out that idea. He walked back to the desk and picked up the book. "Trust me, I know." he said, waving the book. "But we're on the right track. That attack today was a ruse, it has to be."
"But a ruse for what?" Knottail asked.
"That's what I want to know." Toka replied, sitting back down. "Take a few beasts and scout the perimeter of the abbey, look for anything out of the ordinary, then report it back to me, regardless of how insignificant it might be. Oh, and bring Mokeet up here, I want to have a word with him."
Knottail walked off to do the warlord's bidding. Toka was left in peace for a few brief moments, then Mokeet arrived with his guards.
"Mokeet, my good mate, how are you?" Toka asked cheerfully, "Oh, but wait, you've said that you aren't my mate."
"Finally, yore listenin' to me." Mokeet muttered.
"You do realize what I do to creatures who aren't my mates, right?" the ferret asked, bending low to face Mokeet.
"Ye can't kill me yet, though." Mokeet pointed out. "I believe there's still a treasure out there that interests ye."
"The treasure is merely a trivial thing now." Toka said, turning to look out the window again. "If I don't get it, then so be it. I got what I came here for anyway." he gestured over at Redwall.
"Aye, that's true, but isn't a fortress usually used to fill with treasure?" Mokeet inquired rhetorically.
Toka gave his prisoner a sly glance. "You really are clever, Mokeet." he said. "Clever, clever, clever."
Mokeet didn't like the way that sounded, but continued on undeterred. "Ye must be plannin' to get the treasure eventually." he said.
"Yes, I'll get to it, but only once I have Redwall totally in my command." Toka said. "That is my first, and only, priority."
"But is that yore horde's priority?" Mokeet asked.
"What do you mean?" Toka asked, genuinely puzzled.
"You promised 'em treasure." Mokeet explained. "An' they 'aven't gotten it yet. Ain't ye concerned that they might revolt if they don't get the loot soon?"
"Not my horde." Toka replied, but it was clear that he hadn't thought of that before. He quickly shooed Mokeet's guards out of the room, and started pacing around his prisoner.
"What is that you want, Mokeet?" he asked, treading on the otter's rudder as he paced past.
"Who said I wanted somethin'?" Mokeet asked innocently.
"Don't play games with me, riverdog, I know what you're doing." Toka said darkly. "You're trying to blackmail me, and I suspect it's to get me into leaving Redwall to go after that treasure." He sat down at the desk again. "Why?"
Mokeet sighed, feigning defeat. "I want this war to stop." he finally admitted. "I'm tired of 'avin' to sit to one side an' watch good creatures meet their deaths."
"Okay, but what does this have to do with me?" Toka asked.
"I know Redwall feels the same way." Mokeet responded.
"Really?" Toka asked idly, and to Mokeet's panic, pulled out a dagger and began sharpening it.
"Yes, and the battle today proves it." Mokeet replied.
"Hmm." Toka said, pausing momentarily to study the blade he was sharpening, "Knottail thought the same thing."
"Then he'd be right." Mokeet said. "Redwall doesn't want to fight any longer. They might be more willin' to negociate with ye now."
"And, pray tell me how you know that, Mokeet." Toka asked.
Mokeet hesitated, a moment too long for Toka's liking, before answering. "Well," the otter finally answered, "Being a native woodlander..."
"You're a sea beast, Mokeet." Toka was quick to point out.
"Just because ye found me at sea doesn't mean I don't know the ways of woodlanders, especially the peaceful woodlanders that live 'ere in Mossflower." Mokeet pointed out. "I would know what they're thinkin' better than any other beast in yore horde."
Toka tapped his palm with the flat of the dagger for a few moments, thinking that over. "You do have a point." he admitted. "And you want me to offer them the chance to surrender?"
"Somethin' like that, yes."
"I've already offered them that chance twice now."
"Try it again. Ye never know."
Toka was still suspicious. "You seem pretty adamant about this." the warlord observed. "How do I know that you're not up to something?"
"Have I ever betrayed you yet?" Mokeet asked.
"No, but that doesn't mean you aren't going to try." Toka persisted. "I need proof."
"The attack Redwall conducted today." Mokeet replied instantly.
"Again with the attack." Toka said, rolling his eyes. "What does that prove?"
"That Redwall is gettin' desperate." Mokeet responded. "They want to..."
"No they aren't!" Toka roared, and without warning threw the dagger in his paw. It slid dangerously past Mokeet's face before imbedding itself into the wall behind the otter.
Wisely, Mokeet ducked down in case of any more sudden outbursts, and watched the warlord breath heavily as he stared at the quivering dagger in the wall.
"It's true." Mokeet said softly.
"No, it isn't!" Toka persisted, vaulting himself over the desk and grabbing the otter with one paw. "Redwall is up to something, and I want to know what! And I'm convinced that you are somehow related to it!"
He glared into Mokeet's eyes with a fury that drove fear into the otter's heart, so much so that he forgot that Toka was choking him. It went on for several moments, before Toka finally released his hold, allowing Mokeet to draw in deep gulps of air.
"I'm going to go along with this game for the time being." Toka finally announced. "Get that abbey to show it's hand. And I want you to play along with my game for a little while, Mokeet. Do anything else, and I'll kill you."
The two glared at each other for a moment, before Toka added, "Treasure, or no treasure."
Anxious, Mattimeo paced back and forth in the Great Hall, one paw on the hilt of Martin's sword.
"When will Mokeet meet with Toka?" he asked again.
"'e said sometime tonight." Weylan answered, watched the horde from a hole in one of the barricaded windows. "Could be at anytime."
"We really can't wait." Mattimeo reminded his friend. "The sooner this is done, the better, and the less likely I'll have a chance to convince myself this won't work."
"Twas yore idea." Weylan reminded the mouse from his perch, watching him pace.
"I know it was." Mattimeo said. "But the more I think about it, the more flaws I see in it, and the more likely it seems it won't work."
"Well, we don't exactly 'ave any better ideas." Weylan said.
"Exactly why we need to get this done quickly." Mattimeo said, pacing faster. "If something doesn't happen soon, I'm going to do..."
"Shush, 'ere comes the ferret 'imself." Weylan suddenly announced.
Mattimeo was instantly beside Weylan, watching the warlord out on the grounds stride purposefully towards the abbey.
"Attention Redwall!" Toka yelled. "I want an audience with Mattimeo!"
"I'm listening!" Mattimeo called back instantly.
"I'm giving you one last chance!" Toka said. "Do you want to surrender?"
Mattimeo answered without hesitation. "Yes, we do!"
Toka was caught unexpected by that statement, and instantly saw problems with it. One, was the fact that it went completely against the abbey's beliefs. They had been in even more dire situations than this, and refused to stand down even then. Why the change of heart? And then there was how quickly he got an answer. There was no discussion or debate over it. It only made Toka all that more suspicious.
"On what terms?" Toka asked eventually.
"We will surrender if, and only if, the following terms are met!" Mattimeo replied, reading them off of a scroll. "All the creatures of Redwall are spared and are granted safe passage out of Mossflower! That we are allowed to take with us any records and items that represent Redwall and it's history! And that your prisoners, Mokeet the sea otter, and Marigold the squirrel, are granted freedom!"
Toka narrowed his eyes, half-tempted t refuse to agree. "And if I accept these terms?" he asked.
"It will take time for us to gather our things and supplies and prepare to depart." Mattimeo replied. "We wish that you grant us that time, plus some to leave Mossflower safely."
"How long?"
"At least half a season."
Toka spat at the ground, and started pacing, muttering how unacceptable those terms were. From within the abbey, Weylan watched.
"He's not believin' this..." he muttered urgently.
Mattimeo was forced to agree. With each passing moment, the warlord only seemed to get angrier.
"I suppose you'd want my horde to leave during all of this as well?" Toka finally asked.
"That is your choice." Mattimeo said, trying to phrase it so to avoid suspicion.
But Toka was already beyond suspicious. The only question left to answer was how to handle it from here.
"There is some unfinished business I have to attend to here in Mossflower." Toka said finally, "I will take my horde to deal with it while you're abbey prepares for it's surrender. But I will also add some terms of my own. A score of my horde will stay here at the abbey to supervise, and a chain of beasts will be left along our way, so that messages can be sent between the horde and this abbey easily. The time allotted will be shortened to one-half of the time frame requested, and of the two prisoners you want free, you will only get one. Marigold. I keep Mokeet. Are we in agreement?"
There was a long pause, and Toka was pleased to hear hesitation in Mattimeo's voice as he answered with a brief yes. Having nothing more to discuss, Toka left for the gatehouse again.
"Good work in gettin' 'em to surrender, lord." Knottail remarked as Toka went past him.
"They have no intentions of surrendering." Toka said darkly. "They are up to something, and they think they're going to get away with it. But mark my words, they will fail..."