THE CRIMSON BADGER - Chapter Fifty-Three

True to his word, Urthfist kept all his hares out of doors that night, except for the three who stayed up in the Inifrmary to keep their eye on Smallert.

After dinner, with the sky growing dark and many of the Abbey's residents getting ready to turn in for the night, Vanessa went up to the north walltop to await the return of Alexander and the Mossflower Patrol. The calm of a quiet summer evening lay over the woodlands as she gazed out into the deep-shadowed forest, a dark sea against the slightly lighter sky which still held a silver sheen of the departed day. Even the insects seemed subdued in their nocturnal serenade, as if they too realized matters of great import were unfolding in and around Redwall.

"Peaceful, isn't it?"

Vanessa turned to see Arlyn coming up beside her. "Yes," she said to her old mentor, "and about time. I've had all the talk of war and strife and conflict I care to hear. Standing up here, it's very easy to imagine everything is as simple and carefree as it was before Urthblood ever came to Redwall. You'd hardly guess there's such turmoil going on about us."

Arlyn glanced at a pair of hare sentries, scarcely a dozen paces farther along the ramparts. "Well, perhaps if you ignore them, all seems normal. Uh, they do know not to shoot at our squirrels when they return, don't they?"

Vanessa nodded. "I've already had a word with them. They know to expect Alex and the others. Besides, these particular hares appear to be armed with only javelins and slings. I doubt that they could do much damage to a troop of squirrels, especially with the daylight gone. Urthfist has them up here more to watch than anything else, I think."

"Hmm, it is getting pretty dark. I'm a little surprised the Forest Patrol isn't back yet. I hope they haven't run into any trouble."

"Nothing they couldn't handle, I'm sure," said Vanessa. "Alex told us he might stick with Machus's troops until sundown. That would put them pretty far north of here. Even as fast as our squirrel friends can travel through the trees, they might have quite some distance to cover, and I'm sure the darkness will slow them somewhat too. It could be hours yet before they return to Redwall."

"You're planning to stay up here until they get back?" Arlyn guessed.

"I think so, unless it gets horribly late. I don't think I'll wait up all night, if it comes to that ... although I can't imagine what would take them that long. I'd be very surprised if they're not back well before midnight."

Arlyn leaned on the cooling battlement stone. "I suppose the Abbey can spare you for that long ... especially since most of us will be asleep soon. These old bones of mine won't last nearly 'til midnight, that I can tell you!"

Vanessa turned to the venerable Abbot. "Arlyn, what is your feeling on all of this? The conflict between Urthblood and Urthfist?"

The old mouse shrugged. "Nothing like this has ever happened before. You summed it up best when you said earlier that we've been told so many contradictory things, we can't make heads or tails of them. But I agree with you wholeheartedly that Redwall must remain neutral."

"Yes, we have no choice in that, until we know more. But I very much doubt Lord Urthfist is going to clear things up for us. His hatred and mistrust of his brother distorts everything he says. And treating us like ignorant simplebeasts on top of it all. Don't you think his attitude toward us has been just a little presumptuous?"

"If so, it must run in the family," Arlyn chuckled. "I seem to recall Urthblood marching into Redwall and taking charge of things in his own superior way."

"At least Urthblood waited for us to invite him to inspect Redwall, instead of storming in here with an army. Even when all those vermin of his showed up, I have to admit that Urthblood was always mindful to respect our ways. Sure, I had my suspicions about him, but Urthblood never rubbed me the wrong way like Urthfist is doing. It's like he knows what's right for everybeast, and anybeast who disagrees with him is either an enemy or hopelessly ignorant. That overbearing manner might work on backward woodlanders, but we're Redwallers. Urthfist goes on and on that he knows what is best for us, without bothering to listen to what we have to say. That doesn't sit well with me. Why, he just assumed we sent away Urthblood's troops to clear the way for us to make an alliance with him! The arrogance of that badger!"

"His attitude is understandable, given what he and his hares think of Urthblood," Arlyn said. "That doesn't mean he's right, or that we have to agree with him. Let's allow him to stay here a few days, and try to convince him to consider a peaceful alternative to war. If he doesn't yield in his stubbornness, then we can at least say that we tried. Then we'll send him on his way, and pray that not too many creatures lose their lives over his pig-headedness."

"And if he decides he doesn't want to leave?" Vanessa asked gravely.

"Then he'll find out he can't push us Redwallers around," Arlyn replied resolutely. "His hares seem like decent creatures. I think, if they see that their master has antagonized us past the point we can tolerate, they will help us convince Urthfist to leave rather than risk a confrontation with us."

"I hope you're right." Vanessa was silent for a moment. "Although, if push really came to shove in such a case, I suppose we could always send to Lord Urthblood for help. Wouldn't that be ironic? Urthfist comes to liberate Redwall, and it turns out that he's the very conquerer we need to be liberated from!"

"Especially if Urthblood really did send this Browder character to Salamandastron so Urthfist would be lured to Mossflower. Well, whether that's what really happened, we can't say Urthblood didn't warn us that his brother might bring trouble to our doorstep. He did leave Machus and the others here to help defend the Abbey. It was our decision to send them away, and our decision to invite Urthfist into Redwall. Whatever comes of it, we must now deal with the situation as best we can."

Vanessa was silent for awhile. At length she said, "I also can't get out of my mind what Geoff discovered in the archives. So much power in one beast ... to obscure this entire period of history with his prophetic vision! Aryln, what if Urthfist is right about Urthblood?"

"What if?" the retired Abbot echoed. "That's all we have, Vanessa. Questions, but no answers. That why you were right to declare that Redwall must not choose sides in this, at least for now. If Urthblood truly is the evil creature Urthfist insists he is, then I'm sure his true nature will be revealed in time. If not, then we must continue to go by what we see with our own eyes, hear with our own ears, and feel in our own hearts. Whatever comes to pass, we must think of Redwall first. The safety of this Abbey comes before all else. We must preserve our cherished way of life for future generations, just as every Abbot and Abbess has always done. Let this be your guidepost, Vanessa. Whenever you are in doubt in the days ahead, simply ask yourself what is best for Redwall in the long run. And if you need further counsel to help you decide what that is," Arlyn set his paw lovingly atop hers, "then you know where to find it, my child."

Vanessa smiled in the darkness. "It has been a long time indeed since you last called me that, Abbot. It is comforting to know that my teacher is still at my side whenever I need him. These days, I often find myself wondering whether I'm still too young and inexperienced to make a proper Abbess. We need the wisdom and resolve of a Germaine or a Saxtus or a Mordalfus during times like these ... "

Arlyn grinned at this mention of some of Redwall's more notable leaders. "Ah, yes, but then, two heads are better than one, no? Perhaps it was meant that there be two of us at the Abbey's helm during this crisis - my old wisdom and your young resolve must surely be a match for any single Abbot or Abbess Redwall has ever had!"

Sudden loud talking from the two nearby hare lookouts drew their attention. The sentries were leaning out over the battlements, and one was pointing down. Vanessa and Arlyn followed the hares' gazes. It was full dark now, with the moon not yet risen high enough to illuminate the woods north of the Abbey. By straining, the two mice could just make out a swarm of shadowy forms dropping from the nearest line of trees and marching toward the north wallgate.

"Our heroes have returned," Arlyn observed with mock solemnity.

"Let's go see how things went with them," Vanessa said, making for the stairs. The two hares ran over and insisted upon accompanying them, javelins at the ready. The four of them met the trio of otters who were guarding the inside of the gate. The burly waterbeasts opened the door and stood back to let the long line of squirrels file in. Elmwood led the way. They all looked quite haggard from their long day's exertions.

Elmwood stood before Vanessa to make his report. The Abbess leaned around him, searching the other squirrel faces. "Where's Alex?"

"Uh, he didn't come back with us," Elmwood said. "He left me in charge of the Forest Patrol."

"Didn't come back with you?" Vanessa's eyes went wide with concern and anger. "You mean he decided to go with Machus and Mina?"

Elmwood nodded.

"And you let him, even after I'd forbidden him to go to Salamandastron?"

The squirrel raised his paws out to his sides in a gesture of helplessness. "Not much I could do, Abbess. He's the head of the Forest Patrol ... or was. He gave me a direct order to take his place. I couldn't very well disobey him, could I?"

"Yes, you very well ... Arlyn, stop smiling like that! This is serious!"

"Ah, um, yes, of course, Vanessa. But no less serious than our dear Alexander's feelings for Lady Mina, it would appear. He's always been a free spirit, you know that. We should have realized this would happen." He laid a paw on Vanessa's shoulder, then looked to Elmwood. "So, since you are the new leader of the Mossflower Patrol, tell us how everything went today."

"Well, we weren't followed ... but I guess you already know that, since they must've stayed here with you." Elmwood's eyes went to the two sentry hares, standing on the grass alongside Vanessa and Arlyn. "Uh, I'd rather not go into details about direction and distance, not here."

The hares looked mildly insulted, but said nothing.

"That's all right, Elmwood," Vanessa prompted. "Just tell us whether everything went according to plan, that will be sufficient."

"By the numbers, ma'am ... except for Alex not coming back. Other than that, we had no problems or unexpected incidents. They're well away from Redwall."

"Good, good." Arlyn put a paw on Elmwood's shoulder. The other squirrels were already gone, wending their weary way into the Abbey and up to their beds, while the otters had secured the gate once more. "You go get some sleep, Elmwood. You've got more responsibilities now - you'll want to keep yourself well-rested. We'll let you know if we need you for anything."

Elmwood nodded and let his tired footsteps lead him away. The two hares returned to the walltop to resume their night watch.

"Well, it's good to have our squirrels back," Arlyn said. "Having them here should make Urthfist think twice if he's got trouble in mind."

"They're all back but one," Vanessa grumbled. "What could have made Alex do such a thing?"

"I think we both know the answer to that," Arlyn chuckled. "It has a beautiful bushy tail and shoots arrows like a demon. I think it must have been love at first sight."

"It was irresponsible," Vanessa insisted. "Now I have both him and Winokur to worry about. It's not fair to me!"

Arlyn put his paw around her shoulders. "Perhaps not. But it's also now completely out of your paws. These friends have gone off to follow their own destinies. We must leave them to it. There's enough going on right here at Redwall to occupy your full attention."

Vanessa sighed. "I guess I don't have any choice. Oh, Arlyn ... when I became Abbess, I never realized things could be so complicated!"

00000000000

Night passed into morning, and morning wore on toward the afternoon. Lord Urthfist nibbled absently at some bilberry muffins during breakfast, then climbed up to the west walltop, where he stood gazing out across the plains in the direction of Salamandastron, unseen behind the dim line of mountains on the horizon.

His hares took full advantage of the opportunity to rest up in the idyllic Abbey surroundings. Now that the Mossflower Patrol was back and the last of Urthblood's troops were well away from Redwall, the hares relaxed, knowing the Abbey contained only woodlanders and the walls and gates were properly guarded by Long Patrol. Outwardly, many of them seemed to actually enjoy themselves, chatting with the various Abbeydwellers and entertaining many of the children, most of whom had never seen hares before. While they certainly must have relished the chance to indulge in delicious food and be at ease after so many days of marching and constant battle-readiness, there was a steely hardness in their eyes that they could not entirely hide. They believed twenty of their beloved comrades had met an untimely end, and knew it was most likely that war lay ahead for them.

Shortly before the noontide, Vanessa approached the badger warrior up on the ramparts. "Pardon me if I'm intruding, Lord," she greeted him, for Urthfist did seem quite lost in his own thoughts. "But I just wanted to ask, have you made any decision yet as to whether you will try sending a messenger or scout to Salamandastron? To find out what's really happening there?"

His gaze did not leave the distant, misty mountain range. "I have not decided anything, Abbess. I am truly at a loss, as I have only ever been once before in my life. When I first read my brother's accursed prophecy twenty seasons ago, after he had abandoned us in his mindless flight, I was cast into such uncertainty as I feel now. Back then, it took me most of a season to finally accept the responsibility fate had thrust upon me, and assume Lordship of the Mountain. I have no such luxury of time now. Every day I wait, my brother has that much longer to fortify Salamandastron against me. Even now it may be too late. The counsel you offered me yesterday contained much wisdom. It might indeed be foolhardy to lead my hares into an assault against Salamandastron, when there is little hope of winning it back. But what else can I do? I cannot stay in Mossflower, doing nothing. My soul cries out for action, demands it. But what action? My hares will follow wherever I lead them, but it is my burden to decide where that will be."

"I was not the only one giving wise counsel yesterday," Vanessa said. "Traveller had a good idea too. I think he's right. I think that you should abide here while somebeast goes to Salamandastron to check on the situation there. And I think I know of a creature that could make it there and back in even less time than a hare."

For the first time, Urthfist turned to look at her. "Oh?"

"I just spoke with Highwing, the leader of the Sparra here at Redwall. He thinks one of his better fliers might be able to make it to Salamandastron in a single day. We could know by tomorrow, or the day after, whether things there are as dire as you fear. Surely that is not too long for you to wait?"

Urthfist mulled it over. "How trustworthy are your birds?"

"They are Redwallers," Vanessa said firmly. "The Sparra are friends and allies whom we can trust completely."

"I have no dealings with the feathered species, so I cannot judge one from another. The gulls around Salamandastron are as villainous as any vermin, so I do not associate with them. With sparrows, I have no experience whatsoever. I am sure you would not call them friends if they were not decent, for birds. But could one of them be counted on to make this mission? It must know what to look for, and be able to clearly report these observations back to us."

"Um, well ... " Vanessa considered this. Highwing was the only Sparra well-spoken enough to communicate easily with the beasts of the ground. But she could not ask the leader of the sparrows to undertake such an uncertain endeavor. It was one thing to send Highwing to the nearby reaches of Mossflower right around Redwall, and quite another to dispatch him all the way to the coastlands, and possiby into the middle of a battle. No, if this was to be done at all, it would have to be by one of the other Sparra ... one whose presence would not be sorely missed if misfortune were to overtake it and it never returned to Redwall. As far as making a clear report once it got back, she supposed Highwing could always serve as an interpreter.

"With the proper instruction, I think it would probably work," said Vanessa. "Highwing thought the biggest problem would be flying over the mountains. Sparra do not normally fly that high. There may be tricky winds and downdrafts there. But he seems to think some of his younger and stronger fellows could handle the challenge. If you still want to send a patrol of your hares, that's up to you. But we might send a Sparra either way, just to satify our own curiosity. I just thought you might want to be part of our mission, and give us your ideas on it."

"A sound plan, I suppose ... if it can be made to work. I will have to ... " Urthfist let his words trail off, his attention suddenly drawn to some of his hares farther along the walltop. The lookouts seemed excited by something, and one of them came running over to the badger.

"Somebeasts approaching from the south, sir! Along the main road."

"How many, and what kind?" Urthfist asked.

"Small," the hare replied. "Uh, wot I mean is, they appear t' be small beasts, an' there's only two of 'em. Not enough to kick up any dust, so we didn't spot 'em until they came out from behind the trees, around th' bend in th' road."

"Let us have a look at them, then." Urthfist strode down to the far southwest corner of the walltop, where he would have the clearest view of the newcomers. Vanessa and the hare followed at his heels.

They arrived to find two other hares leaning out over the ramparts, scrutinizing the still-distant travelers with their superb long-range vision.

"Definitely just a pair of 'em," one hare reported to Urthfist. "Appear to be shrews. Not marchin' under any banner. Still can't make out whether they're armed."

"Most of the shrews in Mossflower carry shortswords," Vanessa informed them. "I would be surprised if these aren't."

"Weren't there shrews in that gang of my brother's you sent away from Redwall yesterday?" Urthfist inquired of Vanessa suspiciously.

"They all went north," she replied in a cool tone. "They would not be coming from the south. For that matter, no creature of your brother's would approach us so openly, knowing you and your hares are here."

"Yes ... probably."

"I say," announced another of the hares, "they seem to have some sort o' head decoration. Colored bands ... one's orange, an' one's blue. That mean anything to you, ma'am?"

Vanessa shouldered her way to the battlement's edge for a better look. After a few moments she said, "Yes, as I thought. Those must be two of the Guosim. I wonder what they're doing here?"

"Excuse me, Abbess," Urthfist broke in, "what's a Guosim?"

"Oh. It stands for 'Guerilla Union of Shrews in Mossflower.' They're allies of Redwall. They spend the winters here at the Abbey, and wander far and wide throughout the woodlands during the rest of the year. They usually all travel together, so it's unusual to see just two of them."

"Well, that mystery will be solved soon 'nuff, ma'am," said the first hare, "'cos they're movin' at a bally good jog. Be here b'fore you know it."

"Then let us be there to meet them," Urthfist said. "Abbess, I shall want to hear what they have to say. My brother went south, the same direction from which they are coming. There is a good chance they know something of his movements."

"By all means," Vanessa invited. "The Guosim have never exactly been tight-lipped about their travels and adventures. Come along, and I'm sure you'll soon hear everything they have to tell ... whether you want to or not!"