THE CRIMSON BADGER - Chapter Forty-Five

Another glorious summer afternoon at Redwall was drawing to a close. The late sun reflecting off the sandstone bricks of the Abbey cast a warm and rosy glow over all the grounds. Many creatures were strolling about the lawns in a pre-dinner walk, savoring the last full sunshine of the day. Among these were Machus and Lady Mina.

The swordfox was feeling somewhat guilty about having slept away nearly the entire day, but Mina would have none of it.

"Don't be ridiculous, Machus," the squirrel Lady said. "You were falling way behind in your sleep, and it showed. Lord Urthblood would hardly have approved. He wants his troops, and especially his captains, to keep well-rested and alert. You'd have failed inspection, I think."

"True, true," Machus nodded. "And I do feel much better. But you must grant that there were circumstances that needed my attention ... "

"Yes, and you did a fine job tending to them. The world didn't fall apart because you finally got the shuteye you were entitled to. No foe has breached these walls, the troublemaking vermin are secure outside, the hare Hanchett is still safely chained to Smallert, and the mousechild Cyrus is continuing to recover nicely, thank you very much. Things are going well, and they'd not be any better if you'd forced yourself to stay awake all this day."

"Yes, but what about that council down in Cavern Hole?" Machus asked. "You should have woken me for that."

"I asked whether I should," Mina replied, "but I was assured that it wasn't necessary for either of us to attend. And by that, I mean to say that we were specifically not invited." She lowered her voice, glancing about to make sure no Redwaller could overhear. "I can't imagine what was discussed there, but I could swear the Abbey leaders have been more distant toward me ever since that meeting let out."

"Well, what did they tell you it was going to be about?"

"That's just it. They didn't, really. Some routine Abbey business that you and I wouldn't need to concern ourselves with. It was their recorder mouse, Brother Geoff, who called the conference, so perhaps it really wasn't anything important. But poor Alexander! When he had to tell me I was not to be included, he stammered and flustered like he was a youngbeast! Hey may be leader of the Mossflower Patrol, but I'm afraid he'll never have the straight face to be a diplomat!"

"You've grown quite fond of him, haven't you?" the swordfox probed.

Mina suddenly coolled toward her fellow Northlander. "It's nothing I'll let interfere with my duties, I can assure you. Alex is a good friend. If we are to become more than that, it will have to wait until after things are settled with Urthfist ... one way of the other."

"I wasn't prying, Mina. You and your brother Marinus and all the Gawtrybe have been solid allies to Lord Urthblood, and you're certainly entitled to take a husband whenever and wherever you choose. It's just that I've seen better fighters than you lose their edge over romantic matters, when they could least afford to, and sometimes it cost them dearly. I would hate to see that happen to you."

"Oh, trust me, it won't. And, just by the way, when did you ever see any fighter better than me?"

The squirrel Lady's imperious cockiness brought a reluctant smile to Machus's lips. "Pardon me, I did misspeak on that score ... "

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a swooping sparrow who dropped nimbly onto the lawn directly in their path.

"Excuse me, good sir," the bird said to Machus, "but would you happen to be the leader of these fox fellows?"

"I am," Machus affirmed. "And you must be chief of Redwall's Sparra folk. Highwing, isn't it?"

The erudite Sparra seemed taken aback. "I'm sorry, have we been introduced before now, and it slipped my mind?"

Machus grinned playfully. "Oh, no. It's just that your eloquence precedes you. Surely no other sparrow could be so well spoken. How may I help you, my feathered friend?"

"Well, since you and your fellow foxes seem to be taking most of the watches up on the walltop these days, I thought I ought to report directly to you."

"Report what?"

"That there is a badger coming this way, across the Western Plains."

Machus and Mina both straightened as if struck by lightning. "A badger? Like the one who was here for awhile?"

"Well, yes and no. Your Lord Urthblood wore red armor, and this one is wearing a sort of grayish color. Other than that, they look enough alike to be brothers ... which I assume they are."

Fox and squirrel looked at each other. There could be no doubt ... but, just to be sure, Machus asked, "Did he perchance have anybeasts travelling with him?"

"Oh, yes," Highwing bobbed his head. "A regular little army of hares. Between threescore and five, I would estimate."

Machus held up a paw. "Say no more. Highwing, I would like to borrow you for a short while, if I may. Would you please come with us now to a meeting of all the Abbey leaders? I think they should hear this for themselves."

"It would be my pleasure," the sparrow assented. "The Abbess wanted us Sparra to be Redwall's eyes and ears far afield. We were only too happy to oblige. It now seems this was a wise precaution."

"Wise indeed," Machus said, not mentioning the fact that the idea had been his in the first place. "Well, Mina - now it's our turn to convene a council of the Abbey leaders!"

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For the second time that day, the leaders and defenders of Redwall found themselves seated around the table in Cavern Hole. Only this time, Machus and Lady Mina were there as well.

Highwing occupied a place between Abbess Vanessa and the two Northlanders, standing upon his special chair-perch that allowed him to easily take part in such discussions.

"It was my nephew Tallowbeak who saw them first," Highwing told the council. "He was flying down around where old St. Ninian's church used to be, as he likes to do sometimes. He was taking a wide turn back north that put him over the edge of the Western Plains. That was when he saw them. He knew instantly that this must be the force we'd been warned to watch out for, so he flew back here as fast as he could to tell me about it. I decided I had better go see for myself, so I took off right away, headed to the southwest.

"It wasn't difficult to spot them. They're travelling in a wide column, very military-like, with three or four scouts ranging ahead and to either side of the main formation. I was wondering whether I should drop down and introduce myself, but they didn't look very friendly, so I decided it was best to fly back to Redwall straightaway to let you folks know about this. I don't think they spotted me, or took any special notice if they did."

"You did the right thing, Highwing," Vanessa said. "And your nephew, too. That was good thinking on his part, coming here to fetch you."

"How far are they from Redwall?" Machus asked the sparrow.

"They should have reached the main road by now, I should think," Highwing replied. "If they held to their course, they'd have come out a little below the church ruins."

Everybeast breathed a sigh of relief. "Well," said Vanessa, "that means they're not likely to get here before dark."

"And if they've been marching all day," Arlyn added, "they'll probably stop for the night soon. Too bad St. Ninian's isn't still standing ... that might have convinced them to stop there until morning. Now there is no guarantee that they won't come to our doors during the night."

"This early warning does work to our advantage, however," Machus said. "Abbess, I'm afraid I must ask that you allow my banished troops back inside. Urthfist may come bearing no ill will toward you Redwallers, but I have heard that he has no love for vermin, or my own kind. If he encounters any of my soldiers outside these walls, I fear he will slay them out of paw and give them no chance to explain themselves first. I would not see that happen, not even to them."

"By all means, let them in," Vanessa assented. "I was given to understand that most of them had no part in the unpleasantness which occurred with Cyrus. I don't want any blameless creatures killed by some misunderstanding. I'm sure you'll have no problem making them behave, once they realize the alternative. We'll do nothing to provoke Lord Urthfist, until we have had a chance to sit down with him and talk things out like reasonable creatures."

"And if he proves unreasonable?" Machus asked.

"Then he will not be permitted inside this Abbey," Vanessa said firmly. "Even a Badger Lord and his hundred hares will be hard pressed to gain entry to Redwall if they are not welcome. We will see to that."

"To what lengths, Abbess, will you be willing to go to keep them out of Redwall, if they are determined to get in?" Lady Mina inquired.

"These walls have kept out larger forces than that," Alex assured the squirrel Lady.

"Yes," she nodded, "but those were villainous vermin that you were willing to slay down to the last wretched beast of them. Suppose these hares start hammering at all four of Redwall's gates with battering rams, all at once? Will you pour boiling oil or scalding water down upon them to make them break off their assault? Will you shoot at them with arrows, hurl spears, or shower them with rocks and masonry, even though that may kill some of them? These are the questions you must face now, because come tomorrow they may become more than mere questions. If Urthfist demonstrates that he means to harm creatures within this Abbey, will you use deadly force to thwart him? If he tries to force his way into Redwall, will you defend yourselves with any means necessary?"

Vanessa's expression was grave. "Do you really think this might happen?"

Mina shrugged. "I have never met Urthfist, so I do not know his mind. But Lord Urthblood did worry that his brother's longstanding hatred of foxes and vermin might have driven him beyond reason. It may be that the mere sight of Machus or any of his troops on the walltop will be enough to send Urthfist into an irrational frenzy."

"Then perhaps Machus and his forces should stand down from the ramparts," Arlyn suggested. "Until we know for certain."

"Lord Urthblood left me here to help defend this Abbey in just such an event as this," Machus countered the old Abbot. "I will not shirk that responsibility, and run off to hide in a dark corner just because some hate-maddened bully might take offense at my being a fox."

"I see your point," said Vanessa. "But what about the hares? Surely if Urthfist has become totally demented, they would not still follow him so loyally. One badger alone poses no threat to Redwall; he needs his hares if he intends to do any fighting. Even if Urthfist is mad enough to order an attack on us, would his hares obey? I cannot believe they would. Not if it meant harming woodlanders and goodbeasts."

"And children," Mother Maura added.

"I would like to believe you are right." Machus ran his gaze around the table. "But we cannot know what is in the mind of Urthfist and his hares until they arrive. Maybe this is all some dreadful misunderstanding, that will be straightened out if he comes in good faith and good temper. If not - if Lord Urthblood's fears are realized - we must gird ourselves for a siege as serious as any Redwall has ever faced. We have until morning at most, or he could be upon us this very night, if he does not stop to rest. We must use that time to make what preparations we can. We must be ready to meet whatever challenge is issued to us, and to drive away any assault that may be mounted against us."

"We have all the food and drink on paw to last out a siege of a full season, perhaps even two," said Vanessa. "I cannot see them standing outside our Abbey in the winter snows. It is all a matter of keeping them outside our walls. I will have baskets of heavy rubble taken up to the battlements, and piled right above each of the four gates. Since we now have night-and-day lookouts, we cannot be taken by surprise. Anybeast with hostile intent who tries to break into our Abbey will get some bumps on the head - not enough to seriously injure them, hopefully, but enough to make them regret their decision."

She turned to Highwing. "But maybe we can do more than just wait and guess what Urthfist intends. I think we should contact him now, send word that all is well here and he would be welcome to visit, as long as he agrees to obey our laws and cause no harm. Perhaps we can find out why he has come. Perhaps, once he learns that his brother is no longer here, he will not be interested in coming to Redwall at all. Could you do this for us, Highwing? Fly down to them and convey our greetings to Lord Urthfist. Get him to tell you what his business in Mossflower is, and then fly back here to tell us. You can also tell us whether he strikes you as mad or unreasonable, and then we will know where we stand, at least."

"I hope he will not strike me at all," Highwing replied, causing several of the others to chuckle at his joke. "But I have never met a badger who can fly, so I should be safe. I can speak with him and his hares from the safety of a high limb, and fly away if they threaten me. I will do this, Abbess, since I can see how important it is."

They all looked to Machus then, to see whether the swordfox agreed with this plan. He pursed his lips. "I suppose ... but it could be risky. And I'm not talking about good Highwing's safety alone. If Urthfist is in an unpredictable mood, there's no way to know what might set him off in a violent rage. For all we know, good tiding from Redwall might put him over the edge as easily as a challenge of defiance. And we don't want to let slip anything that he may be able to use against us. Right now, chances are he has no idea what is going on here. I'm thinking it might be better to leave it that way. If he doesn't know whether we'll be expecting him, is that an advantage we should so readily give up?"

"I was just wonderin'," Montybank spoke up, "is it possible that Urthblood 'n' Urthfist met along th' way? I mean, two armies travellin' opposite ways, each makin' fer the exact place the other came from ... what's the chances of the two of 'em totally missin' each other?"

Lady Mina answered, "It sounds to me as if Urthfist took a more northernly route, if he's coming our near those ruins. Alexander and I have gone that far just on routine patrols. Lord Urthblood was going to march straight south for two or three days before turning west. That would leave a lot of leeway. I'd guess they never came anywhere near each other."

"Yes, but, if Lord Urthfist is only just getting here," Geoff observed, "wouldn't that mean he must have left Salamandastron around the same time that Urthblood left Redwall? Isn't that rather coincidental?"

Mina looked hard at the recorder mouse. "I don't know what you mean."

"It seems to me," old Arlyn broke in, "that we're all overlooking something rather obvious."

That got everybeast's attention. "What's that, Arlyn?" Vanessa prompted.

"Well, here we are, all wondering what Urthfist and his hares might have in mind, and it occurs to me that we just happen to have one of those hares staying at Redwall right now. So, why don't we ask him?"

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Hanchett the hare stood before the assembled Abbey leaders down in Cavern Hole, the weasel Smallert still manacled to him wrist and ankle.

"We need your help, Hanchett," Vanessa said.

The hare glanced down at the chains linking him to Smallert. "Beggin' your pardon, ma'am, but I don't think I'm in much position to help m'self, much less anybeast else."

"Then you'll be happy to know that this will be your last night of captivity."

Hanchett perked up at this, but Machus looked sharply toward Vanessa. "Abbess, we didn't discuss - "

She silenced the fox with an upraised paw. "Machus, we both know that the only reason Lord Urthblood insisted we detain Hanchett was so that he wouldn't run ahead to Salamandastron to warn Lord Urthfist, or cause trouble for the marchers in some other way. That is no longer a possibility, so there is no cause to deny this beast his freedom."

Vanessa addressed the Long Patrol hare. "Hanchett, we think you'll be interested to know that Urthfist is, as we speak, less than half a day's march from Redwall. And he seems to have brought most of his hares with him."

Hanchett's face fell, as his short-lived elation was brought to an abrupt end. "Oh, no. Say it isn't true, Abbess! Are you sure?"

"Reasonably so. Highwing, describe for Hanchett exactly what you saw."

"Certainly, Abbess." The Sparra leader proceeded to outline for the hare everything he could remember, from the color and shape of the badger's armor to the clothing of his hare troops, and the manner and formation of their marching. By the time he was finished, Hanchett's face was even longer.

"Yup, that's them," he nodded morosely. "Fur an' damnation, why are they comin' now? Salamandastron's sure to fall, without them there. Lord Urthfist knew his brother might be on his way toward Redwall, but he'd never have come here if he knew Urthblood had already left. He shouldn't have come anyway! Wot was he thinkin'?"

"That's what we were hoping you could tell us," Vanessa said. "You've been in Lord Urthfist's service for a number of seasons. You know his personality, and we do not. Will we be able to treat him as a friend, or will he be violent toward us?"

"Depends wotcha mean by 'us.'" Hanchett gestured toward Machus. "I can tell you for sure, 'is Lordship won't take a shine t' findin' beasts of his type inside Redwall."

Vanessa sharpened. "Who we decide to allow inside Redwall as our guests is our concern, not his. But we do insist that our guests be treated with the same respect, and by the same laws, as any Redwaller. Machus has proven himself a friend. Your own master has yet to do so. If Urthfist threatens harm to any creature within our Abbey - even foxes, rats and weasels - then we must treat him as we would an enemy, and refuse him entry to Redwall."

Hanchett shrugged. "Wotever. I can't predict wot's gonna happen, 'cos I never would've imagined he'd leave Salamandastron. I don't know why he thought it was necessary to come to Redwall, or wot he thinks to do here. All I know is I was sent to warn you good folk about Urthblood, an' I got here too late."

"I don't know what there is about Urthblood that you thought you had to warn us about," said Vanessa, "but he and most of his army have come and gone, leaving us none the worse. It is Urthfist who approaches now with a fighting force, and his intentions are unclear to us. Urthblood worried about his brother's state of mind. Tell me this, if you can: when Urthfist discovers that Urthblood has left for Salamandastron, might that make him dangerously enraged?"

"Dangerously dismayed, more like. He'll be findin' out that the thing he's spent his whole life protectin' is about to be pulled out from under him. What would you do, Abbess, if you were t' learn Redwall was about to fall to your sworn enemy?"

"I'd fight them," Vanessa answered. "But I would not involve innocent goodbeasts who had no part in our conflict. Now, it has still not been explained to my satisfaction why Urthfist considers his brother his sworn enemy, or why it would be such a disaster for Urthblood to assume Lordship of Salamandastron. But if this is certain to come about anyway, and if Urthblood is after all the rightful heir to that mountain fortress, shouldn't Urthfist be looking for ways to cooperate with Urthblood, rather that fight him?"

Hanchett made a sour face. "Would you dance with an adder, Abbess, or sleep with a scorpion?"

"Urthblood has dwelt in our Abbey, and I am neither stung nor bitten," she said wryly. "I have yet to hear why Urthfist's cause is just, and why we should mistrust Urthblood. I suppose I will simply have to wait for this badger to arrive and state his case for himself. But it would be nice to know what we may expect from him."

"He wouldn't harm goodbeasts, if that's your worry," Hanchett assured them. "He's dedicated himself fer twenty seasons to guardin' the coast 'gainst searats so you inland folk can have peace from those dirty scoundrels - not like Urthblood, who's friends with those vile nastybeasts."

"Lord Urthblood has no searats in his service," Lady Mina retorted, "and he hardly considers slave-takers to be his friends."

"Oh? I heard he was buddies with Tratton ... even spent some time at sea wi' that blighter."

"Then you are woefully ignorant, and should not speak on such matters. I can only hope Lord Urthfist is not so badly misinformed."

"Lady Mina, please," Vanessa said sharply. "Heated words will not gain us anything here. Hanchett, we are thinking of sending this Sparra down to welcome your master and his hares, while they are still some distance from Redwall. This will allow us to judge his temperament, and assure him that all is well here. What do you think of this idea?"

"Smashin' idea, ma'am, 'cept fer one thing." Hanchett jangled the chains that made him and Smallert prisoners of each other. "I'd be more'n happy to take that bally bird's place. Just undo these bracelets, an' I'll be off."

Vanessa smirked at the hare's audacity. "I hardly think you'd be an objective messenger."

"Yes, there is that," Hanchett admitted.

"No, your manacles will be opened when Urthfist is standing outside our gates, and not before. That should be tomorrow morning, or perhaps even tonight. I'm sure you can wait that much longer."

"Reckon I can."

Vanessa turned to her old Sparra friend. "I think perhaps a slight change of plan is called for, Highwing. Machus has concerns about telling Urthfist more than he knows now. It may be wise to follow that counsel, until we ourselves can learn more of his purpose in coming here. I would still like you to fly down to them, but not as an envoy. See if you can find some branch or high perch from which you can watch and listen to Urthfist and his hares without calling attention to yourself. Find out all you can, then fly back here and tell us."

"I can do that, Abbess. But what if I am spotted, or hailed?"

"Then you will just be a simple, curious woodlands sparrow, flying down for a look at an unusual group of travelers. They don't need to know you're a Redwaller, so they'd have no reason to expect you'd know what's going on inside the Abbey. One thing, though: if you must talk to them, you'll have to try to speak like a regular Sparra. Otherwise, they'll suspect something's amiss."

"Oh, dear. That's a tall order, Abbess. Let's see ... hrmph! Hmrwph! Been longtime since mespeak like Sparra to groundworm crawlers!"

"Good enough, Highwing!" Vanessa laughed. "It'll fool any of us groundworms, especially ones who aren't native to Mossflower. And you should be safe, since Urthfist isn't likely to mistake you for a rat or a fox!"

"I should hope not!" Highwing hopped off his chair-perch and birdstepped toward the stairs up to Great Hall. "No time like the present, or so they say. Wish me luck. I'll return as soon as I have anything worthwhile to tell."

"Take care, Highwing. And, thank you."

Highwing bobbed his head in acknowledgement and disappeared up the steps.

Hanchett shook his wrist chain, looking over at Smallert. "Well, honeymoon's almost over, chap. Been nice knowin' you, even tho' you are a weasel."

Smallert tried to force the expression of misery from his face. "Ye're a goodhearted soul fer puttin' up wi' me, an' givin' me some solace in me last days. Guess this's th' last night o' captivity fer either o' us, tho' you got better reason t' welcome it than I do."

Vanessa felt a lump forming in her throat. With everything else going on, she'd completely forgotten that Hanchett's release was virtually a death sentence for the weasel. And here they'd been, talking about it right in front of Smallert as if he weren't even there!

"Machus," she said "we still have to decide what to do about Smallert. I trust you'll do nothing with him until we've had a chance to consider his case more thoroughly? After all, we did not expect to be releasing Hanchett quite this soon."

"A good point, Abbess," Machus agreed. "And I imagine that I will be too occupied these next few days to pay him much attention. Starting tomorrow, after we free Hanchett, I'll have Smallert put back down in the cell. He can remain there, under guard, until we get to him."

The weasel looked confused. "Wha - I thought I was set t' die, no two ways about it?"

"That is the penalty your crimes demand, under Lord Urthblood's laws," Machus explained. "Normally, I would be left with no choice but to have you executed. But since we are at Redwall, the Abbess has final say in your punishment. If she insists I spare your life, I will have to obey."

Smallert looked to Vanessa. "Oh ... oh, thank you, Abbess." His voice was choked with emotion.

Vanessa let her gaze fall to her folded paws. "I still haven't decided whether to extend you the mercy of Redwall, so don't thank me yet."

"Even fer considerin' it, marm, I'm grateful. It's th' greatest kindness anybeast's ever shown me." Smallert pawed away a tear, trying to compose himself.

"All right, all right." Machus stood. "Abbess, Lady Mina and I will see to getting the rest of our soldiers back inside the Abbey. I'd like to put them all right up on the walltop, although there should be some Redwallers up there too. Let us go get that straightened out."

"Of course. Monty and Alex will help you with that. And Foremole will keep the baskets of masonry coming, so that you'll have all the ammunition you need, if it comes to that." Glancing at Hanchett, she added, "Just smaller rocks, nothing too dangerous. We'll refrain from putting Alex and his archers on the ramparts, unless the situation gets very bad. Remember, all of you, we would prefer to settle this with words, not weapons. Hopefully, Highwing will be able to tell us which of those we are likely to need more."