Chapter 2: An Unwanted Guest

Fione and Eryalus sat in a cubicle in the Abbey Infirmary, watching anxiously as Sister Millicent administered to the unconscious Shanwu. The mousemaid craned her neck to and fro, trying to get a glimpse of the Shanwu past the Infirmary Keeper's tall frame. "How is he, Sister? Will he live?"

Sister Millicent was a slender, no-nonsense mouse with her headfur tied in a tight bun. She ignored Fione's question until she had finished wrapping the Shanwu's head in layers of bandages. "Nothing's broken. A few days of rest and he should be fine."

The mousemaid wasn't convinced. "But he hasn't moved since I found him."

The Infirmary Keeper turned around, peering at Fione down the length of her bespectacled muzzle. "Where did you say you found this creature?"

"In a meadow west of here. I think he was robbed," replied Fione. She didn't know what this had to do with the Shanwu's current state.

"Indeed," said Sister Millicent. She clicked her tongue in disapproval. "That's what happens when you don't travel on designated Guild roads. Now, if you'll excuse me, there is a molebabe with a stomachache whom I must attend to."

Fione's eyes drifted back to the Shanwu lying motionless on the bed. "But he's still unconscious – " she looked up just as Millicent vanished in a swish of curtains.

"So much for good bedside manner," Eryalus remarked, patting Fione's shoulder. "Don't worry, young'un, I'm sure he'll be alright. Thirsty?" The squirrel Gatekeeper offered Fione his tankard of warm October Ale, which she accepted.

Fione sipped the foamy beverage, never once taking her eyes off the golden-furred mouse lying before her. She bounced the end of her oak staff nervously on the cobblestone floor. Thock. Thock. Thock. Who was he? What was his name? What was he doing in Mossflower?

Eryalus' musings interrupted her thoughts. "It's strange that you found him west of the Abbey, young'un. Most Shanwu refugees make their home in east Mossflower. Very interesting."

Fione turned to her friend. "But why are they refugees in the first place?" She knew very little about the Shanwu, apart from the fact that they existed.

"There's currently a terrible, terrible war going on in Jiangshan. Their homeland is being invaded from the north by nomadic tribes called the Hun-Nur. The Shanwu are hardy creatures willing to fight to the death, but it's not going well for them. Many have fled west to escape the fighting, including some who crossed the Eastern Sea till they arrived on the other side of Mossflower." Eryalus paused, recalling his history. "And this is all following a series of natural disasters plus a succession crisis that has had the country tearing itself apart before you were even born."

"Poor creature," Fione murmured, not quite knowing how else to respond. "How d'you think Redwall will take to him?"

Eryalus shook his head. "Hard to say. Shanwu merchants used to come here all the time to do business, but they haven't been back since the Guilds declared the trade ban twenty seasons ago. The Redwallers' views toward the Shanwu have since been shaped solely by the Guilds, and the Guilds want the Shanwu gone."

Fione couldn't believe that anybeast would have the heart to evict the battered, wounded mouse lying peacefully in front of her. "Well, maybe he's a kind creature. Maybe he'll change their minds."

"I hope so, young'un," Eryalus muttered. But the mousemaid could hear the doubt in her friend's voice.

Further conversation was interrupted as the Shanwu began to stir, groaning and muttering incoherently. "Eryalus, look!" Fione whispered, wide-eyed.

The Gatekeeper noticed as well. "By thunder, young'un, it looks like he's waking up!"

The Shanwu's head throbbed with pain. Voices echoed all around him in an unfamiliar language. He didn't know if they were talking about him. He opened his eyes and sat up.

His bedroom glowed a hellish orange.

Drums pounded; screams of terror outside rent the night.

The bedroom door flew open. His father stood in the doorway.

"Jin, they're here. We have to leave."

"Who's here?"

"The Hun-Nur."

The young mouse got dressed as quickly as he could. A little while later, he was running down a long corridor. Light from the burning fires outside poured through the paper windows, illuminating the space. Everywhere Jin looked, he could see large silhouettes rushing by, casting their long shadows on the walls. The intruders were in the courtyard, and they were setting fire to the house. The sounds of battle seemed to be getting ever closer.

"Stay close together!" his father instructed. "We'll get through this."

Jin's attention was fixated on the commotion outside when suddenly an enormous armored wolf crashed through the ceiling in front of him, holding a wicked-looking scimitar in his paw. The mouse yelled out in surprise as the flames engulfed everything…

The Shanwu sat bolt upright with a start and opened his eyes for real this time. Cold sweat ran down the nape of his neck. His eyes darted left to right as he tried to calm his shaking paws. He had experienced another flashback.

As Jin regained control over his emotions, he started to get a bearing on where he was. The unfurnished space, with coarse linen curtains comprising its walls, bore no resemblance to the snowy meadow he last remembered trekking through. Neither did he remember there being a bed, nor a pillow, a fat squirrel, or a bright-eyed mousemaid staring at him.

Fione and Eryalus watched with bated breath as the Shanwu collected himself and gauged his surroundings. "H-hi," ventured the mousemaid. "How're you feeling?"

The Shanwu turned toward Fione at the sound of her voice. Brown eyes met blue.

Jin was astonished by the amount of freckles on the mousemaid's cream-colored face. He didn't know headfur came in red. An awkward silence passed between the two of them.

Fione's heart pounded in her chest. Words eluded her now that the Shanwu was awake. "Um, welcome to Redwall Abbey! My name's Fione. What's yours?"

Jin barely heard her; his head still throbbed. Very gingerly, the mouse reached a paw up to his temple, feeling it touch fabric. Somebeast had bandaged him up. What was this place?

"Oh, er, Sister Millicent cleaned your wounds earlier and patched you up," Fione explained, the words tumbling rapidly out of her mouth. "I-I found you lying in a meadow. Somebeast had knocked you out…"

"Fione," muttered Eryalus, his own eyes still fixated on the Shanwu.

"You were in pretty bad shape, so I carried you here. Well, I did have to drag you part of the way – "

"Fione," said Eryalus, a little louder this time.

"What?"

"I don't think he can understand you."

Fione turned slightly red. "D'you speak Mossian?" she asked. She received a blank stare of incomprehension from the Shanwu in return.

The mousemaid took a deep breath. "Alright, um, let's see...my – name – is – Fione. What – is – yours?"

Jin just blinked.

"I'm – " she said, pointing to herself, " – Fee-yohne." She pointed to him. "You?"

Jin understood that the mousemaid was trying to introduce herself. He, however, remained silent. He wasn't sure who these strange creatures were or what they wanted from him.

Eryalus put a paw on Fione's shoulder. "Here, young'un, let me try. I know a thing or two about their customs." Still seated, the squirrel raised both paws to chest level, his left paw cupping his right fist in the traditional Shanwu greeting.

Jin did not return the gesture.

The scholarly squirrel faltered. "Oh, my. I guess we'd better try something else…Fione, give him your drink." The mousemaid did as she was told, offering the tankard of October Ale she was still holding to the Shanwu.

Very warily, Jin took the bulky vessel. Hunger and thirst raged in him like a howling void, overriding any reservations he had against accepting food and drink from these strangers. He took one sip, gagged, and spat the putrid liquid out onto the floor. It tasted like bitter poison.

Fione shot Eryalus an unimpressed look. "I tried!" the Gatekeeper protested.

Jin decided that the two creatures in front of him posed no threat. The squirrel seemed to know Shanwu customs a bit more than Fee-yohne did. In any case, if he was going to leave, they would not be able to stop him. The mouse looked around the cubicle. His bag of provisions was nowhere to be seen. He tried to rise, but a sharp pain spiked through his head, forcing him to relent.

Fione was by the Shanwu's side in an instant. "Easy! You have to rest."

Jin gritted his teeth, waiting for the pain in his head to subside. How was he going to survive in this strange land without food? The ground outside was still mostly frozen over, so foraging would be difficult. This was not a good situation to be in.

Suddenly, the cubicle curtains parted. Fione watched as a middle-aged gray mouse walked in, closely followed by a pair of armed otterguards on either side. The otters were clad in chainmail, over which they wore green-and-white tunics emblazoned with the Guild emblem – a large golden sun – on the torso area. Even though they were a common sight around the Abbey, the mousemaid always felt slightly intimidated when she saw them.

The gray mouse spoke. "Well then, Fione, who is this?"

Fione performed a hasty bow. "Father Abbot! This is our guest. I found him today while I was out collecting firewood. He was hurt, so I brought him here for treatment. I don't think he speaks Mossian."

Julius, Abbot of Redwall, was the spitting image of a stern Abbey patriarch, from his plain brown habit to the square spectacles perched high on his graying muzzle. The middle-aged mouse frowned as he stared at the Shanwu, who stared back. "I don't think he belongs here, Fione."

The mousemaid blinked. "What d'you mean?"

"He's a Shanwu," Julius replied, and when Fione raised an eyebrow he continued. "The Guildmasters won't be pleased to see him in our Abbey."

"Why?"

Julius adopted a patient tone of voice, as if he were lecturing a Dibbun. "Surely you know, having lived at Redwall for your entire life, that the Shanwu disrupt the honest business conducted by Mossflower's Guilds?"

Fione made a sound of disbelief as she glanced at the ubiquitous Guild Sun engraved on the tankard of October Ale, printed on the Infirmary curtains, and carved into the headboard of the Shanwu's bed. "Really? Seems like they're doing just fine, if you ask me!"

"His presence would anger the Guildmasters – "

"He was going to die! How could you turn him back out into the woods?"

Fione saw the elder mouse's expression darken. She knew the Abbot did not like Redwallers challenging his authority. "Very well, Fione. He may stay for now. But seeing as you brought him into our Abbey, you shall be responsible for him. Maybe you can teach him our ways and civilize him a bit."

The mousemaid glared daggers at him. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Sister Millicent's head popped through the curtains. She had evidently overheard their exchange. "He can't stay in the Infirmary, Father Abbot. I need to make room for more patients."

Abbot Julius nodded. "So be it. There is a vacant room at the end of the Dormitories' west wing. Brother Eryalus, do you have the keys?"

The portly squirrel nodded. "Aye, Father Abbot. The Gatekeeper has keys to every lock in the Abbey. But shouldn't we – "

"Good. Then the Shanwu is stay there until he is healed. He is not to be let near the other Redwallers. Should he need to leave his room for whatever reason, you, Fione, will see to it that he does not do so unaccompanied. Bring his meals to his room, after the others have eaten. Once he has recovered, he shall leave Redwall Abbey at once."

Fione opened her mouth to protest, but Julius silenced her with a wave of his paw.

"I will not hear any more on the subject. After you see to it that he is settled, you will join the rest of us at dinner." With that, he and his bodyguards were gone, leaving Fione and Eryalus with the Shanwu.

Jin watched the older mouse leave. He figured that this was their leader. The sword-carrying otterguards gave away that much.

Fione glanced at the Shanwu, who sat there with a blank look on his face. What had she gotten him into?

Dinnertime was approaching as Fione and Eryalus escorted the Shanwu through the Great Hall as they headed up toward the Dormitories. The trio found themselves braving the rush of excited Abbeybeasts streaming down the wide staircase as they headed in the opposite direction. The Redwallers shot them small glances as they passed by, whispering among themselves. Fione couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious.

Jin's mind raced as he rapidly processed his new environment. It was so different than what he had seen back home. Contrary to the elegant carved wooden structures that so often defined Shanwu architecture, the walls of this place were built out of some kind of red stone. The windows on the high ceiling and the walls were decorated with multicolored glass.

He wondered if this place was a temple of some sort. It certainly had a sacrosanct quality to it, and between the brown robe worn by the leader mouse and the green robe donned by the squirrel, he guessed that some order of monks resided here. Yet the other creatures like the mousemaid didn't seem to follow a collective regimen or dress code. Plus, there were armed soldiers. It was much unlike what he had seen back home. Whatever this place was, its residents didn't seem to like him very much.

Brother Eryalus, on the other paw, was thrilled at the Shanwu's arrival. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this day, young'un. I've always wanted to learn more about your culture. Let's set up a time for tea tomorrow afternoon. Fione, you can bring him by the Gatehouse and we can get to know him better…"

"Eryalus, please!" protested the mousemaid. "Let's get him settled first. And in case you haven't noticed, he's been hurt!"

The portly squirrel peeped over from behind the stack of pillows and blankets he was carrying. "Sorry, young'un, you're right. I'm just so excited to finally meet a real Shanwu after all these seasons."

"Well, at least give him time to rest," said Fione, as they reached the top of the stairs. "He's been through a lot."

The Abbey Dormitories split off into two wings. Since the arrival of the Guilds, the Dormitories had been expanded and rearranged. The majority of Redwallers slept in the west wing. The east wing contained larger rooms reserved for members of the Abbey Order and wealthier Abbeybeasts and their families, as well as guestrooms for travelers and merchants.

Fione guided the Shanwu down the west wing toward the room Julius had specified. "Last room on the left," Eryalus called. "Don't get too far ahead, young'uns."

They reached the room at the end of the hall. The Gatekeeper set down the sheets and pillows and drew forth a large ring loaded with around three dozen keys, fumbling through several until he found the correct one. He stuck the key in the door and turned with some difficulty. The door creaked inward. "There you go, young'un! Enjoy your stay!"

Jin scanned the quarters with which he had been presented. It was unfurnished save for a small bed which lay near the open window. The candle-holder mounted on the wall was covered with cobwebs. A chilly draft swept through the tiny room.

Fione set her staff down in the corner, replacing the burnt-down candles in the candle-holder with fresh lit ones while Eryalus made the bed. She smiled at the Shanwu. "I live across from you. Just knock if you need anything," she said, pointing across the hall to her door.

Another draft swept through the room. "Sorry about some of the other Redwallers," continued Fione, struggling to close the sliding window. "They've...well, they've never seen a Shanwu before." She pulled hard downwards and the window jammed, leaving a small opening at the bottom. She turned back toward the Shanwu and smiled apologetically. "We'll get you an extra blanket."

But the Shanwu wasn't paying attention. Instead, he was gazing at the small bed that Eryalus had made for him. "Go on, try it out," urged Fione, gesturing toward it.

Jin sat down slowly on the bed. It creaked violently under his weight. The young mouse hadn't slept in a proper bed since fleeing Jiangshan. Although the accommodations these creatures had set him up with were less than ideal, the mere existence of a real bed made the mouse momentarily abandon his wariness and suspicion. He had forgotten what comfort felt like.

"Glad we found one thing he likes," Eryalus muttered to Fione.

Just then, the Matthias and Methuselah bells tolled out their evening song. "The banquet's starting, young'un," said Eryalus. "We shouldn't miss it."

Fione turned to the Shanwu. "I'll be back with some food. Stay here."

Jin still didn't understand a word that the freckled mousemaid was saying, but it didn't matter. He was still preoccupied with having his own room for the first time in so long. The mousemaid smiled again. He watched as both creatures exited the room, closing the door behind them.

"Well, he seems harmless enough," said Eryalus, as the pair made their way back down the wide stairscase toward the Great Hall. "Say, young'un, does he seem reluctant to talk to us?"

Fione nodded. "Maybe he's just getting used to the new place. I'd love t'know his story: how he got here, why he's here, where he's going. Oh, if only there was some way to communicate with him…" The mousemaid suddenly stopped walking, clapping a paw to her forehead. "What is it, young'un?" asked the Gatekeeper, concerned.

"I left my staff up there. You go on without me. I have to go back and grab it."

Eryalus gave her a quick nod. "Alright, but hurry. You know how the Abbot gets when we miss these feasts." With that, the squirrel continued on his way, punching the air triumphantly. "Martin's beard, a real Shanwu! I never thought I'd live to see the day!"

Fione tore back up the stairs and down the Dormitory wing until she had arrived back at the Shanwu's room. She knocked rapidly on the closed door. "Hello? It's me, Fione. Can I come in?"

Nobeast answered. Fione guessed that the Shanwu was probably just asleep. No matter; she would be quick. The door was unlocked, and it creaked loudly as she pushed it open. "Sorry t' disturb you. I forgot my – "

The room was exactly the way she had left it. The candles were lit, the sheets were laid out on the bed, and her staff leaned against the far corner untouched.

But the Shanwu was gone.