10.
Healing Rain
Martin sensed too late Rassk's movement. He only had time to take his eyes off the flying sword and look down at Rassk. As he did the fur on the back of his neck stood up as lightning struck his sword.
CRAAACKKK!
The sword seemed to glow for a moment before it was shot downward faster than any eye could follow. Martin was thrown flat on his back from the blast and blacked out.
He woke moments later as fat raindrops began falling thick and fast around him. His sword was impaled in the breastplate of Rassk and had driven through the fox pinning him neatly to the ground. The silent fox would never again rise to enslave another free beast.
The rain sent up clouds of steam from the sword blade. With raindrops pinging off his armor Martin walked to where the fox lay. Testing the handle he found it cool enough to grasp and pulled it out of the dead fox. Stepping back a few paces, Martin ran an expert eye along the length of the blade, to find it unmarked. With a sharp flick of his paw Martin sent rainwater and blood flying from the steel. Laying the flat part of the blade closest to the hilt atop the scabbard at his side, Martin placed his free paw on the topside of the blade. With a smooth motion he drew his sword across the top of the scabbard, wiping off any remaining blood and water as he did so. A short thrust quickly returned the sword to its place of peace inside the black leather. Turning from the fallen fox, Martin the Warrior walked through the clouds of steam and mist towards the sounds of his friend's voices.
CRAAACKKK!
The lighting bolt hit the spinning sword causing it to glow momentarily before it was shot down and out of sight.
"Strike me rudder! Did you jus' see that!?" Skipper was in shock at what he had just witnessed.
"Aye, matey you don't see something…oy! What was that? Hahahaha! Feel that mates? It' rainin'!" Sure enough fat drops of water were falling not only on Gonff, but also on all creatures outside. The rain came down harder and harder until the ground became a wet, sodden, muddy, mess. The joy of the Noonvalers was without limit as the rain fell.
Then Gonff spotted the figure walking out of the mist. "Look mates! It's Martin! He's won! C'mon, first one to peg him with a mud ball gets extra breakfast!"
The always playful thief scooped up a pawful of mud and went splashing through the puddles towards the armored mouse. He was only halfway to his friend when Martin collapsed. Dropping the mud Gonff put on an extra burst of speed and called out over his shoulder. "Columbine! Martin's down! Come quickly"
Gonff dropped to the ground and tore off the Warrior's helmet as he started searching for wounds. Columbine, Skipper, Brome, and a host of Noonvalers were not far behind. "Where is he hurt Gonff?" asked Columbine.
But Gonff only burst out laughing. "Hahahahahahahahaha! I don't know how he does it. There's not a scratch on him! I think he's just fallen asleep! Never could stay awake after a battle this one! Hahahahahahaha!"
Columbine swatted her husband's ear as she started pulling off Martin's armor. "Can't stay awake after a battle my eye you cake thieving rascal! Last time it was because of the terrible wounds that horrible wildcat gave him. This time it's just sheer exhaustion. Thank the fates he's in no real danger."
Brome's eyes grew wide as he knelt next to the Warrior. "You mean Martin fought a wildcat and won?"
Columbine continued to pull off armor as she answered. "That he did sir. Nearly killed him too. We were all so worried about him. Is there any place we can get him out of this rain?"
Brome was about to answer when a new voice was heard. "I know a place. Pick him up and follow me." It was the same creature who had kept vigil in the south woods. Bending down the hooded figure picked up the token that Emalet had given to Martin.
Columbine finished removing the last piece of armor when Skipper came up and lifted Martin as if he were no more than a feather. He turned to the Vigil Keeper who still had the hood of its cloak up, covering the face. "Lead on."
Skipper followed the Vigil Keeper through the crowds of rejoicing Noonvalers. All were celebrating the dual victories of the end of Rassk and drought. After a fair hike the spot was reached. "Lay him down there. I will make sure he fully recovers. Please let none disturb us."
Skipper laid the victorious mouse down where indicated. Rising, the burly otter bowed to the Vigil Keeper and left to return to his friends. He last sight of the pair was the Vigil Keeper retying the Noonvale token to Martin's right arm.
A/N; A short chapter I know. The next ones will be a bit longer. In case anyone was wondering, Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat from Chapter 9 is Latin for Fortune Favors the Bold. The secret you would have gotten had anyone guessed correctly was that Gonff was going to start a mud fight. Yes I know he really didn't, and it's not a big plot point, but hey I'm not going to give away all my secrets. We'll all just have to wait to see where we're heading next.