THE CRIMSON BADGER - Chapter Fifty-Two

The sun had passed its zenith over northern Mossflower and was beginning its slow slide down the western half of the sky on its tour through the afternoon.

Very little of that heavenly display was visible within the dense canopy through which Alexander and the rest of the Forest Patrol raced. Even less must have been visible from the forest floor, where Machus and his brigade of Northlanders marched. Yet the ragged column suddenly came to a purposeful halt, and the fox whistled a signal for Lady Mina to climb down for a consultation.

Alex sat upon a wide ash limb, staring down at the stopped procession. "Now what do you suppose this is all about?"

"One way to find out," Mina said, and promptly dropped off the branch in a rapid descent to the ground. Alex gave a whistle signal of his own that would keep his fellow Redwall squirrels from spreading too far apart during this halt, then followed Mina down.

"We turn west," Machus announced when the two squirrels reached him.

"We've only been marching for half a day," Alex said. "We can keep on north for awhile if we want. The forest provides good cover for some way yet."

Machus shook his head. "We've kept our pace fast, even through these woods. My purpose is to get to Salamandastron as quickly as I may, and rejoin Lord Urthblood there. I feel we've put enough distance between ourselves and Redwall to put off any pursuit that may be following us. I want to turn and strike out across the Western Plains, after a quick rest here."

Alex had to disagree. "You have to get around the mountains anyway, Machus. It makes more sense to stay to the woods for as long as we can, and wait to turn west until the cover gives out. Otherwise, you'll be out on the open plains for too long."

"I'm not planning on going all the way around the north or south end of the range to get to the coast," Machus explained. "Lord Urthblood has spoken of a more direct route that we may try. If we go too much farther north, the way will be harder to pick up. It will be difficult enough from here, for the route I have in mind is not widely known nor plain to see. But if we can find it, it will cut days off the journey. And I do not suspect that Urthfist would chase us straight across the Western Plains, even if he discovers that is the way we have taken."

Alexander looked to Mina. "You're in command here too. What do you say to this?"

Mina deliberated with herself in silence for a moment. "I think I know what Machus has in mind. He's right; we'll have to turn west here."

Alex pursed his lips, then nodded. "Just realize, we won't be able to give you any cover from here on. Where there aren't any trees, the Mossflower Patrol isn't much use."

"I understand," said Mina. "But the help you've already given us should be all we need. But I agree with Machus. I think this is the best way."

"I don't suppose there's any way I could convince you to come back to Redwall with us, Mina? You'd be most welcome."

"Not by Lord Urthfist, I have a feeling." She took Alexander's paw in hers. "You know I can't go back, even if it were safe for me to do so. My place is with my fellow Northlanders, and Lord Urthblood. I'm going to Salamandastron with Machus. For me, anything else would be unthinkable."

"I know. Just thought I'd ask." Alex gazed up and scanned the nearby canopy until he spotted Elmwood, then motioned for the other squirrel to climb down and join them. "Elmwood, Machus and Mina have decided they must leave the cover of forest here and turn west. I want you to set up a standing defensive wedge in the canopy just south of this spot. If Urthfist does come this way, the idea is to keep him too busy to notice that his quarry has changed course. I hear his tracking hares are good, but it's hard to track anything when you're dodging arrows from above. If you can engage them before they reach this turn-off point, that will buy these marchers more time to get well out onto the Plains and, hopefully, out of sight of anybeast chasing them. Once you've got the defensive line established, hold it until sundown, when it gets too dark to get good shots. If there's no sign of pursuit by then, head back to the Abbey to see how things are going there. I'm putting you in charge of the Mossflower Patrol."

"Sir?"

"I won't be going back to Redwall," Alex said to his second-in-command. "When Mina and Machus start out across the Western Plains, I'm going to be with them." He glanced at the swordfox. "Unless you have any objections?"

"Oh, no," said Machus. "I've seen you shoot. An archerbeast of your skill is not a boon I'd easily turn away. Come, and most welcome."

"Well, he might have no objections," Elmwood protested, "but the Abbess prohibited you from going to Salamandastron."

"That was before," said Alex. "Things have changed. I'm needed more with these beasts than I am at Redwall."

"Easy for you to say. I'm the one who has to go back and face the Abbess and explain why you're not with us. What am I going to tell her?"

"Tell her that if I survive the adventures ahead of me, I'll make my way back to Redwall eventually, and then she may bite my head off all she wants."

"I hardly think that'll satisfy her, sir."

"Well, then you think of something better." Alex grinned impishly. "You're the head of the Forest Patrol now. Use your discretion."

Elmwood looked Alex in the eye. "What makes you think I won't just chuck it and come along with you?"

"Because I ordered you not to."

"And you're counting on me to obey you."

"Do you have other ideas?"

Elmwood was quiet for a long time. "Yeah," he said at last, "ideas. But you know I'll end up doing what you ask. I could never disobey you."

Alex clapped his old friend on the shoulder. "I owe you one, Elmwood."

"Yeah. A big one. But just come back in one piece, and that'll be payment enough for me." Elmwood turned a lingering, longing glance toward Lady Mina, then spun and raced up into the treetops without another word.

Mina looked at Alexander. "You don't have to do this."

He returned her bright-eyed gaze. "Yes, I do."

00000000000

For the second time that day, Redwall was laid open to inspection from the hares of the Long Patrol. This time, however, it was no mere trio making a hasty run through the Abbey, but the full fourscore that Urthfist had brought with him from Salamandastron. The Badger Lord posted over a dozen up on the walltop, and deployed the remainder in groups all throughout the grounds and the main building. All the hares behaved formally cordial to any Redwallers that they met, but their no-nonsense manner left no doubt in the Abbeydwellers' minds that this was an occupation force, moreso than Urthblood's troops had ever been.

Forcing herself to remain gracious, Vanessa invited Urthfist and his officers to a late lunch with the Abbey leaders down in Cavern Hole. To her mild surprise, he declined, preferring to remain outdoors where, as he put it, "nobeast will be likely to catch me off guard in a confined space." So, after a long table was hastily put out and set for a meal, they took their lunch under the afternoon sun on the south lawn.

Urthfist barely touched the Redwall fare. Obviously, food was not uppermost in his mind. His hares, however, indulged themselves with the gusto for which their kind was renowned, once they saw that they'd be taking from the same bowls and pitchers as the Redwallers.

"Apologies if we seem overly suspicious, ma'am," Major Safford said to Vanessa. "Don't mean t' be ungracious of yer spankin' hospitality, but with all we've been through an' everything wot's goin' on, I'm sure you can excuse us for puttin' security before politeness."

"I am glad you've finally seen sense, Abbess, and thrown those barbarians out of your home," Urthfist said. "Now we may begin to work together to battle this scourge that has visited Mossflower."

Vanessa quickly held up a paw. "Just a moment, Lord. Before things go any further, let us understand one another. The only reason I ordered your brother's troops to leave Redwall was because you were threatening to put our Abbey under siege as long as they remained. I am not choosing sides here. Quite the contrary. Until this matter is settled between you and your brother, Redwall will not ally itself with either side."

Urthfist's eyes widened at her. "After all that I have told you ... "

"We have heard so many conflicting and contradictory things that we cannot tell where the truth ends and falsehood - or misunderstanding - begins. Therefore, it is not our place to try to figure out who is right and who is wrong in this. Redwall will remain neutral, in the hope that you and your brother may be able to work out your differences for the sake of the lands."

"Then why did you even bother asking us inside?" Urthfist queried.

"As long as you are with us here, we can be asured that you are not out hunting our former guests with the intent to do them harm. And you will be able to see for yourself that we are allowing none of your brother's forces to remain garrisoned here ... a condition that must also apply to you, Lord. We would not deny you our hospitality after your long travels, but we cannot have you staying here as more than the most temporary of guests. Then, you and your hares must leave Redwall too, and not return until you and Lord Urthblood can settle your differences."

"Ah. So, how long before our welcome wears out?"

Vanessa pursed her lips. "Now, that does present me with a rather interesting dilemma, Lord. In all fairness, I cannot have you staying here for any length of time, after denying your brother's soldiers permission to remain here. On the other paw, my main concern is preventing a war, if I am at all able to do so. As long as you are here, I can know that war has not broken out yet. Part of me is tempted to permit you an open-ended stay at Redwall, if that will keep you and Lord Urthblood from coming to blows."

"You are very much mistaken, Abbess, if you suppose the war has not yet started. Lies are weapons, as sure as swords and spears, and my brother has cast his lies about with the skill of a master deceiver. But if it is bloodshed you fear most, I can assure you that this too has already begun. I left behind twenty good hares to guard Salamandastron, but they would not be enough to hold out against my brother's horde, and he would not let them stop him from taking the mountain for his own. Even as we speak, I fear those noble beasts' lives are spent in a lost cause. This is war, Abbess, and make no mistake of it."

"I am sure there are many among your brother's followers who would insist that Lord Urthblood is rightfully entitled to the throne of Salamandastron, and that any hares who would fight to keep it from him are the ones responsible for starting trouble. I do not know enough about what is going on here to have an opinion one way or the other. Or perhaps I should say I know too much, but I can't make heads or tails out of all the different things we've been told."

"Would you at least give me the benefit of the doubt?" Urthfist asked.

"I already have, otherwise you would not be sitting here now," Vanessa answered. "I am trying very hard to give both you and Lord Urthblood the benefit of the doubt, but you seem to think it should be reserved for you alone. As long as you take such an unyielding position, it will not help your cause with us. We must reach our own conclusions, based on all we've seen and heard."

"You have not heard enough?" Urthfist barked incredulously. "What will it take? Bloody corpses of the slain piled up outside your Abbey's door?"

"You were threatening to slay some beasts yourself, if I remember correctly," the Abbess said. "Fortunately, that has been avoided. Now let us see what other bloodshed we may be able to prevent. You seem convinced that your brother will slay the hares you left behind at Salamandastron. What if you are wrong? If Urthblood spares them, would that not be a foundation upon which the two of you could enter into negotiations with each other?"

"I am not wrong," Urthfist stated with certainty. "My hares will fight if he tries to enter Salamandastron. They will fight to the death."

"Then perhaps you should not have instructed them to do so. Your brother will be able to say it was their own fault, for trying to bar him from his own home and refusing to treat with him. Let us assume the worst, then: that there has been a battle, and all of your hares are now dead, no doubt along with many of Urthblood's own troops. That puts him in charge of Salamandastron, with a tremendous force to help him hold it. What will you do? There is very little chance that you and the fourscore hares you have here would be able to win back the mountain, and a very good chance that you would all die if you were to attempt such an assault. Is this not reason enough to seek some alternative to open war with your brother?"

"Would you have me make peace with a monster who has slaughtered my loyal troops?"

Vanessa looked around. "Right now I see a Badger Lord and eighty hares who are all very much alive. I for one would like to see you all stay that way."

"At what price, Abbess? There are worse things than death. Living as a slave, for one. Am I to stand by and do nothing while my brother's evil fastens onto Salamandastron and spreads along the coast, even to the borders of Mossflower? I would sooner give my life combating such a thing than live as a coward who did nothing to stop it. We are warriors. The prospect of dying a valiant death in battle does not phase us."

"Perhaps not, Lord. But you can only die once. Better I think to look at all of your options while you're still alive to do so. I would not ask you to turn your back on your duty, or to let an evil go unrighted. There must be some way for you and Urthblood to meet peacefully, and discuss your differences. As Abbess, this is what I must strive for, and any way that I can bring it about, I will."

Urthfist shook his head. "My brother has carefully arranged this treachery so that what you suggest is not possible. He is far from me now, and in control of Salamandastron. He will not come out of that place unless it is to meet me on the field of battle. He has seen to that."

"It takes two sides to fight a battle. Urthblood won't be able to meet you on the battlefield - if that is even what he wants at all - unless you march there to engage him. What we really need is some way to find out what is going on at Salamandastron so we can stop guessing at all these what-ifs and could-be's. Lord, might you consider abiding here in Mossflower until we can dispatch a messenger from Redwall who can go to the coast and then return to tell us exactly what is happening there? It would also be a way to send word to your brother that you wish to talk with him ... "

"The only talking that will take place between us will be with our blades," Urthfist growled.

"Can't you bring yourself to cooperate with us at least a little?" Vanessa asked, growing impatient with the badger's stubbornness.

"Here is what will happen with your plan," Urthfist derided, leaning over the table toward the Redwallers. "You will send your messenger, while my hares and I will sit around waiting. When half a season has gone by without his return, you will send another messenger to find out what happened to the first. And another half-season will pass without word. No matter how long you wait, no matter how many runners you send out, it will avail you none, because my brother will not let them leave Salamandastron alive. He has the prize he sought. No more does he have to worry about keeping up his deception. He does not care what you think of him now; he has his fortress, and the coastlands. He will not talk to anybeast, unless it is to issue mandates to them from his place of power."

"Or so you insist," old Arlyn gently retorted, an innocent smile on his aged face. "We won't find out for certain unless we send somebeast, will we?"

"You would only be wasting their lives, Abbot," Urthfist spat, not taken in by Arlyn's feigned dodderism. "He will slay any Redwaller who goes to spy on him."

"I very much hope you are wrong," Vanessa said primly, "because there is a Redwaller marching with Urthblood as we speak."

"Then I fear that one is a deadbeast."

"Still, we must find out," Vanessa insisted. "The only question is, who shall we choose to make the journey to Salamandastron?"

"How long would it take one of us to get there, anyway?" Geoff wondered.

"Longer than it'd take a hare," Traveller said, and turned to Urthfist. "M'Lord, maybe the Abbess hasn't got such a bad idea. She's right about one thing: if His Bloodiness has Salamandastron in his claws, we'd be hard pressed to take it back. But Redwall and Mossflower are still free 'n' clear o' his vermin rabble, an' I'm thinkin' maybe we oughtta make it our immediate mission to keep it that way. We can't stay at Redwall, but Mossflower's a big place. As good a place as any to establish a defensive base t' square off 'gainst your brother. You've always told us he wouldn't stop until he brought all the lands under his power. Well, if we waste ourselves in a futile attempt to recapture Salamandastron, who's gonna be here to stop him when he moves on Mossflower?"

Urthfist bristled. "I will not live as an exile from my own home, while so undeserving a beast as my brother claims an honor which he forfeited long ago."

"Wouldn't hafta be any sorta permanent thing, sir," Traveller said hastily. "But the thing is, while most of us stay here to fortify our fallback postition, as it were, a squad of us can make a quick run to the coast, have a peek at wot's goin' on at Salamandastron, then dash back here to give a proper report on the bally situation. That way, we wouldn't be workin' in th' dark like we are now. And' if any of Colonel Clewiston's hares did manage to escape your brother's horde, we'd be able to lend them a paw as well."

Urthfist was doubtful. "None will have survived. Any more who venture there will only be slain as well."

"Sir!" Traveller declared with mock affrontery. "We are the Long Patrol, after all. We'll be able to sneak right up to their doorstep, an' the blighters won't even know we're there. We know the lay o' the land around Salamandastron better'n any of them - "

"Except for my brother. He will have all the approaches very well guarded, you can count on that."

"Then we'll go as close as we can. We should still be able to make some worthwhile observations, even if we have to keep our distance and stay low. It would still give us more t' go on than we've got now."

Urthfist seemed to chew it over. "In the time it would take for you to get there, and then return to Redwall, the situation could change so much that your observations would be worthless."

"Keep in mind, M'Lord, a Patrol of three or six hares could travel much faster an' make much better time than the whole lot of us did during our march here. An' consider also, we now know it may not be necessary to go all the way around the mountains to make the run 'tween Redwall 'n' Salamandastron."

Urthfist raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about Browder's pass through the mountains?"

Traveller nodded. "We couldn't have taken the whole column over it, but a small Patrol should be able to manage it. Besides, if that louse Browder could do it, so can we!"

"You don't even know for sure that there is such a pass," Urthfist pointed out. "Browder may very well have been lying about it, along with everything else."

"Melanie's Patrol said there did seem to be one. Sure, they didn't go all th' way over it, but Browder knew right where it was, and he had to get to Salamandastron somehow. I'd wager my whiskers there is a pass. An' if we can find it, we'll be able to make the run in three days each way. That oughtta be enough to do some good. Wot d'you say, M'Lord?"

"Perhaps ... if you can find it. That alone might be a challenge. And remember, my brother knows of that pass, so his forces may be using it. At the very least, there is a good chance he will have it guarded. It is a risky proposition, Traveller."

"Risk?" The veteran hare grinned. "Been thrivin' on risk these past twenty seasons, M'Lord. Why should a little more of it stop me now?"

"Well," Vanessa broke in, "this isn't anything you have to make a decision about right this instant. I would encourage you all to spend at least this one night in our Abbey. I'm sure you could all use a rest after your travels. Tomorrow, you can decide whether you would prefer to stay here a little longer, or move on. In the meantime, please enjoy our hospitality. We'll do everything we may to accommodate you, and to help you on your way when it is time for you to leave. We did this for Lord Urthblood, and we will do no less for you."

"My thanks, Abbess." Urthfist pushed aside his sparse, unfinished plate. "Earlier you spoke of trying to find beds for all my hares. That will not be nescessary. We shall sleep out here on the lawns."

"Are you sure?" Vanessa asked.

"Not t' worry, ma'am," Traveller assured her, looking around at the lush carpet of greensward that was all around them. "This is a better bed than many we've had in our seasons of patrolling along the coast, or that I was able to find for m'self in the Northlands. We'll be snug 'n' dandy out here, long as we don't get any bally rain."

Arlyn glanced up at the cloudless blue sky. "Not much chance of that, unless we get a real weather change."

Urthfist stood, and Major Safford was right at his side. "M'Lord, were you wantin' to see that weasel now?"

The badger stared off into the distance, not responding for several moments. "No," he decided at last, "I think it would be best if I am not brought face to face with that creature. Just make sure there is always a team of the Patrol with that vermin to keep an eye on him. What these good folk do with him after we leave is their affair, but as long as I am in Redwall, I will want him watched very closely."

00000000000

Smallert spent his first day of freedom up in the Infirmary with Cyril and Cyrus.

The three hares that Urthfist had assigned to monitor the weasel lounged on beds nearby; their relaxed postures did not hide the fact that they were tensed and ready for action should Smallert step out of line.

Sister Aurelia went over to them, somewhat peeved at having such militaristic creatures playing prison guard in her Infirmary and intimidating her guests and patients. "It is nearly dinner time," she said to the trio. "Why don't you good hares go down and join your fellows? I'm sure you'd much rather eat out on the lawns than have to juggle your cups and plates on these beds."

Their leader, a Sergeant Traughber by name, dismissed her feigned concern with the wave of a paw. "Don't see as it makes much difference whether we juggle 'em down on the lawns or up here, ma'am. We're nice 'n' cozy right where we are. An' it seems to me we just finished our bally lunch scoff. How often d' you Redwall folk eat, anyway?"

"It only seems that way," Aurelia said, "because you had a late lunch, after most of us had eaten. But, to answer your question, we eat as often as we please. There's no shortage of food and drink here at Redwall ... although I know a certain otter who's tried his best to create one for many of these past seasons."

"Ho, y' don't say?" Traughber laughed. "I'd like t' meet that old riverhound. He sounds like my kind o' fella!"

"And I'm sure he'd enjoy meeting you. He's probably out having supper with everybeast else. Why not pop downstairs? Just ask for our Skipper of otters, or look for the beast who's plate is piled higher than all the others."

Traughber shook his head. "Nice try, ma'am, but I gotta stay here. Orders, don'tcha know."

Sister Aurelia sighed and drifted over to the two beds where Smallert sat with the mouse brothers. Cyril looked at her expectantly. "Well, are they gonna leave us alone?"

"No such luck, I'm afraid," Aurelia replied. "Looks like those hares are here to stay, until that whole gang of theirs leaves the Abbey. Don't worry, Cyril - it's not like they're bothering anybeast. I think Lord Urthfist just wants some of his soldiers to keep an eye on our friend Smallert. That's all."

Smallert swallowed nervously as he glanced over his shoulder at the hares. "I sure'm glad that badger ain't comin' up here after me. Gotta feeling me 'n' him wouldn't get along so good."

Cyril patted Smallert's paw. "Don't worry. We wouldn't let that big bully do anything to you. You're safe with us."

"Yes," Sister Aurelia agreed, "the safest place for you, Smallert, is at the side of our two young bellringers here. Urthfist wouldn't dare harm you in their presence."

Cyrus sat up straighter in his bed. "Does that mean I can get up and go around the Abbey with Cyril and Smallert?" The two brothers had stopped calling the weasel "Mr. Smallert" after learning that Smallert was in truth only a few seasons older than Cyril was.

"Not just yet, Cyrus."

"Aw, I was well enough to go downstairs this morning to say goodbye to Mr. Machus!"

"That was special occasion. And remember how weak you were feeling by the time you walked back up to the Infirmary? We really should have had somebeast carry you up here."

"I only got tired because I've been in bed for so many days," Cyrus protested. "You said so yourself: now that I'm better, I've gotta start walking around more to get my strength back."

"Yes, that is true. I tell you what. Depending on how you feel tomorrow, maybe this can be your last night in the Infirmary. Would you like that?"

Cyrus beamed. "You mean I'll be able to sleep in my own room again? And stop wearing this nightshirt?"

"Of course. You'll even be able to go where you please, as long as you promise to take it easy, and sit down to rest immediately if you start to feel tired or run down. You won't be able to go back to ringing the bells for awhile, but Maura's been doing a pretty good job in your stead, so we'll let her handle that for a few days more."

"And Smallert will be able to come along with me?"

"I think he would insist upon it, and the Abbess too. One thing, though: wherever you go in the Abbey, I would advise you to stay clear of Lord Urthfist. I think Smallert is exactly right that they wouldn't get along very well."

"Don't you worry 'bout that, marm," Smallert pledged earnestly. "Nobeast hasta tell me twice not t' get in that badger's way. If'n we see 'im comin' our way, these lads 'n' I'll be somewhere else in a trice, an' that's no fib!"